Research with cancer cell lines has re-opened the question of the role of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in treating cancer. By using levels of the vitamin only available through intravenous injection, scientists were able to destroy cancer cells in 5 of 10 cell lines but not normal cells They believe that vitamin C generated hydrogen peroxide, and it was hydrogen peroxide that killed cancer cells
Previous studies have not confirmed theories that vitamin C was an effective treatment for cancer, but those studies used oral doses of the vitamin. Intravenous injection of a 10 gram dose produces 25 times the available ascorbic acid than a similar dose in oral form.
Scientists from the National Institutes of Health reported their findings in the September 12, 2005 online edition of the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.* They wrote:
Taken together, these data indicate that ascorbate at concentrations achieved only by i.v. administration may be a pro-drug for formation of H2O2, and that blood can be a delivery system of the pro-drug to tissues. These findings give plausibility to i.v. ascorbic acid in cancer treatment, and have unexpected implications for treatment of infections where H2O2 may be beneficial.
Dr. Mark Levine, who led the study team, cautioned that treatments would have to be proven safe before being given to patients.
[Read the study abstract from the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.*](http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0506390102v1)
[Read an article about the study from the BBC.](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4238250.stm)
[Read more about the study, including cautions for patients, on *Medpage Today*](http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/LeukemiaLymphoma/tb/1733)
October 28, 2006 at 7:23 am, Peter C. Doyle said:
I’m wondering if you have heard of Albarin?
Tryin g to get details about it’s use past and present.
Thank You
Pete
October 29, 2006 at 3:46 pm, Kate Murphy said:
Albarin is an intravenous form of aloe vera and is not legal in the United States. There is no evidence for its effectiveness to treat cancer and some evidence that it is not safe.
Four patients died after intravenous injections of aloe vera in Virginia, and the FDA successfully prosecuted the individual who was selling it as a treatment for cancer, AIDS, and autoimmune diseases.
The particular extract of aloe vera called Albarin was provided intravenously to patients with cancer in an alternative treatments clinic in Tampa which was raided by the FDA in 2001.
C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition supports only those treatments for colorectal cancer that have demonstrated safety and effectiveness and are either approved by the Food and Drug Administration or are part of ongoing clinical trials.
Information about aloe vera is available on the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Integrative Medicine site.