Impact of Intravenous Vitamin C Administration in Reducing Severity of Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients During Treatment

Abstract

Introduction Alternative medicine during treatment is often used to make the quality of life (QoL) better. Women with early-stage breast cancer, particularly the ones who possess lower QoL, are more prone to opt for complementary medicine. This study aims to explore the effects exerted by intravenous vitamin C (IVC) on symptoms and adverse events associated with breast cancer treatment. Methods This single-center, parallel-group, single-blind interventional study was conducted in the oncology ward of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. For this study, after informed consent was taken, breast cancer patients with Union for International Cancer Control stages IIA to IIIb were included in the study. Three hundred and fifty (n = 350) patients were randomized into two groups at a ratio of 1:1. Study group was randomized to receive 25 grams per week of IVC at a rate of 15 grams per hour for four weeks in addition to their current standard treatment, and the control group received placebo (normal saline drip with label removed) in addition to their current standard treatment. Results In patients who had received IVC, there was a significant decrease in the mean severity score after 28 days for the following symptoms: nausea (2.65 ± 0.62 vs. 2.59 ± 0.68; p-value: 0.0003), loss of appetite (2.26 ± 0.51 vs. 2.11 ± 0.52; p-value: 0.007), tumor pain (2.22 ± 0.45 vs. 1.99 ± 0.40, p-value: <0.0001), fatigue (3.11 ± 0.32 vs. 2.87 ± 0.29; p-value: <0.0001), and insomnia (2.59 ± 0.35 vs. 2.32 ± 0.36, p-value: <0.0001). Conclusion Our study showed improvement in the mean severity score of nausea, fatigue, tumor pain, loss of appetite, and fatigue. More studies are also needed to assess the long-term effects of IVC in the cancer management. This shall help incorporate the use of IVC in standard practice to make the journey of cancer management comfortable for the patients.

High-dose intravenous vitamin C, a promising multi-targeting agent in the treatment of cancer

“…For instance, a retrospective, multicentre, epidemiological cohort study [ 18 ] showed amelioration of appetite, fatigue, depression and sleep disorders in breast cancer and terminal cancer patients suffering from a wide variety of cancer types that received complementary 7.5 g IVC while being treated by respective standard regimens. More recently, a single-center, parallel-group, single-blind interventional study also in breast cancer patients [ 86 ] showed a similar and significant reduction of symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, tumor pain and loss of appetite by administering 25 g of IVC per week in addition to their current standard treatment. Favourably, no new side effects were reported after initiation of IVC treatment.…”

Overcoming EGFR Resistance in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Using Vitamin C: A Review

“…One possible explanation is that oral vitamin C does not achieve the required plasma concentration to exert an anti-cancer effect, unlike IV. Indeed, orally administered vitamin C achieves maximum plasma concentrations of no more than 220 μmol/L of blood, while high-dose IV vitamin C generates plasma concentrations up into the millimolar range (≥15 mmol/L), leading to different outcomes [ 16 , 21 , 22 ]. Yeom et al, evaluated the quality of life of 39 terminal cancer patients who received high dose vitamin C (10 g twice by IV and 4 g oral daily intake for a week).…”

The interplay between vitamin C and thyroid

“…Cancers can influence patients' quality of life, and vitamin C is shown to positively affect pain relief and well‐being 39,40 . Moreover, vitamin deficiency is a common condition in patients with cancer, and anti‐neoplastic syndrome medications can also improve vitamin C deficiency and well‐being 41 .…”

“…Moreover, vitamin deficiency is a common condition in patients with cancer, and anti‐neoplastic syndrome medications can also improve vitamin C deficiency and well‐being 41 . Constitutional manifestations such as fatigue, depression, nausea, pain and loss of appetite are common in patients with cancer, and it was shown that intravenous administration of vitamin C reduces these complications and has palliative applications 40,42 . Altogether, high‐dose vitamin C was shown to prolong the survival duration of patients, better performances and less pain compared to the control patients without receiving vitamin C 42 …”