Can Vitamin C Intake Prevent Cancer?

Vitamin C for Cancer Prevention

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin the human body needs to function well. It cannot be made by the body, and must be obtained from foods or other sources. Vitamin C is found in abundance in citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and in green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, red & green peppers. Many studies have shown a link between eating foods rich in vitamin C, such as fruits and vegetables, and a reduced risk of cancer.

According to The Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, the RDA of vitamin C should be 200 mg/day in an adult diet. The higher levels of vitamin C help prevent scurvy & reduce cases of the heart disease and cancer. Research studies in mice suggest that vitamin C can indeed inhibit the growth of some tumors.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps block the action of free radicals, which can damage cells. This vitamin is said to enhance the immune system by stimulating the activities of white blood cells and anti-cancer agents. Some claim that the vitamin can prevent a variety of cancers from developing, including lung, prostate, bladder, breast, cervical, intestinal, esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, and salivary gland cancers, as well as leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Vitamin C for Cancer Prevention

Vitamin C is also said to prevent tumors from spreading, help the body heal after cancer surgery, enhance the effects of certain anti-cancer drugs, and reduce the toxic effects of other drugs used in chemotherapy. However, no randomized clinical trials have yet been done in humans to test the effect of Vitamin C supplements during radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Many of these studies show people who eat foods to get a high level of vitamin C have about half as much cancer as those who have a low intake of these foods. The daily diet of an adult must include 5-9 daily servings of fruits and raw/ steam-cooked vegetables, with 6 ounce glass of orange juice. This would provide 200 mg of vitamin C daily. 

The intake of vitamin C on a daily basis poses no risk, but there is strong evidence that it would provide multiple & substantial health benefits.