Palliative Vitamin C Application in Patients with Radiotherapy-Resistant Bone Metastases: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to observe effects of ascorbic acid application on pain, performance status, and survival time in cancer patients. A retrospective cohort of 39 patients with bone metastases treated with radiotherapy was identified. All patients were radiotherapy-resistant. Fifteen patients who received chemotherapy, and 15 patients who received an infusion of 2.5 g ascorbic acid were included in the study. Nine control patients were treated with neither chemotherapy nor vitamin C. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status Scale and Visual Analog Scale were used to determine performance status and pain assessments. Survival time and rate in patients were defined. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the results of groups. Performance status was increased in 4 patients of vitamin C group and 1 patient of chemotherapy group, whereas performance status in control group was decreased. A median reduction of 50% in pain was observed among the patients in the vitamin C group. Median survival time was 10 mo in patients receiving ascorbic acid, whereas the chemotherapy and control groups had a median survival of 2 mo. Intravenous vitamin C application seems to reduce pain in patients in comparison to other patients who did not receive it. Patient performance status and survival rate were increased using vitamin C.

Urinary metabolomics of complete Freund's adjuvant‐induced hyperalgesia in rats

“…Vitamin B6 works as a coenzyme to transfer amino in amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism. A previous study reported that pain scores in carpal tunnel syndrome patients improved more than other measured parameters following vitamin B6 treatment (Gunes-Bayir & Kiziltan, 2015). Another study reported that circulating vitamin B6 levels were inversely correlated with clinical indicators, including the disability score, duration of morning stiffness and degree of pain, and with biochemical markers, including the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein levels (Chiang et al, 2005).…”

“…A previous study showed that intravenous administration of vitamin C relieved pain in patients in comparison to patients who did not receive vitamin C (Gunes-Bayir & Kiziltan, 2015). Vitamin C is easy to consume in pain-derived oxidative stress, and it is a sensitive indicator of the initiation of pain.…”

“…). A previous study reported that pain scores in carpal tunnel syndrome patients improved more than other measured parameters following vitamin B6 treatment(Gunes-Bayir & Kiziltan, 2015). Vitamin C is easy to consume in pain-derived oxidative stress, and it is a sensitive indicator of the initiation of pain.…”

The role of vitamin C in the treatment of pain: new insights

“…Cameron and Campbell [81] reported a number of cases of dramatic to complete amelioration of bone pain in patients with severe cancer-related pain given both high dose oral and intravenous vitamin C (Table 3). Retrospective studies of patients with bone metastases receiving 2.5 g intravenous vitamin C once weekly or during intensifying pain reported a range of responses, including 0–100% decreases in pain [83, 84]. These, and the earlier case studies [81], indicate that vitamin C can potentially provide dramatic improvements in pain relief in cancer patients with bone metastases.…”

“…Retrospective studies of patients with bone metastases receiving 2.5 g intravenous vitamin C once weekly or during intensifying pain reported a range of responses, including 0–100% decreases in pain [83, 84]. These, and the earlier case studies [81], indicate that vitamin C can potentially provide dramatic improvements in pain relief in cancer patients with bone metastases.…”