From Common Vitamin to Cancer FIGHTER

Cancer. It’s a word that hits close to home for so many of us.

Whether it’s a friend, a family member, or a personal battle, cancer’s devastating reach spares few. Yet, in the relentless search for solutions, a familiar nutrient—vitamin C—continues to shine as a beacon of hope.

New research published in Redox Biology reveals that high-dose intravenous (IV) vitamin C, when added to standard chemotherapy, doubled the survival time for patients with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

This deadly cancer, notorious for its poor prognosis, typically offers a median survival of just eight months with treatment.

Adding vitamin C extended survival to 16 months—a result so promising that the trial was stopped early.

Let’s take a closer look at these incredible findings…

Conducted by researchers at the University of Iowa, the trial included 34 patients with late-stage pancreatic cancer.

The participants were divided into two groups: one received standard chemotherapy (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel), while the other received the same chemotherapy regimen plus high-dose IV vitamin C—75 grams, three times weekly.

The results were remarkable:

Chemotherapy alone: Median survival of 8 months.
Chemotherapy + vitamin C: Median survival of 16 months.

Beyond extended survival, patients receiving vitamin C reported fewer side effects and greater tolerance for their treatments—a benefit observed in other cancer trials as well.

Dr. Joseph J. Cullen, a professor of Surgery and Radiation Oncology at the University of Iowa and lead researcher, shared his optimism:

“This is a deadly disease with very poor outcomes. When we started the trial, we thought 12 months would be a success, but we doubled survival. These results are incredibly encouraging.”

Cullen and his team have spent two decades investigating the potential of high-dose IV vitamin C as a cancer treatment.

The key lies in its ability to achieve blood concentrations far beyond what oral vitamin C can provide. At these high levels, vitamin C creates changes in cancer cells, making them more susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation.

This isn’t the first time IV vitamin C has demonstrated promise in oncology. In a trial for glioblastoma—a deadly brain cancer—patients receiving high-dose IV vitamin C alongside chemotherapy and radiation also experienced significant survival benefits.

Some pancreatic cancer patients in earlier studies have even become long-term survivors, living nine years or more after treatment.

As we’ve discussed in past articles (because yes, we’ve been talking about this as far back as 2012!), intravenous vitamin C has long been explored for its potential role in cancer therapy.

This latest research adds to a growing body of evidence supporting its efficacy in improving outcomes for patients with aggressive cancers.

It’s worth noting, however, that vitamin C in this instance isn’t a standalone cure—it works in tandem with traditional treatments.

And while Big Pharma often overlooks natural therapies in favor of profit-driven drug development, studies like this underscore the importance of looking BEYOND those conventional approaches.

The University of Iowa team is continuing to explore the use of high-dose IV vitamin C in combination with radiation and chemotherapy. Their persistence could pave the way for a future where natural therapies play a larger role in cancer care.

For now, these findings serve as a reminder that innovation often comes from revisiting the basics. Something as simple as a vitamin we’ve known for centuries could help change the trajectory of cancer treatment!

To unlocking nature’s potential—together,

Rachel Mace
Managing Editorial Director, e-Alert
with contributions from the research team

Sources:

Coleman, D. F. (2024, December). High-dose vitamin C: Promising treatment extends survival of pancreatic cancer patients. Study Finds. https://studyfinds.org/vitamin-c-cancer-survival/