Experts Say…
“.. (our studies in) Vitamin C, better our understanding of how diverse it is in protecting our health, from … cancer, [and building our] immunity to liv(e) longer.”
Mark Moyad, MD, MPH, University of Michigan
Oral and Intravenous - What I Used
oral and intravenous
Potential Concerns
Interactions / issues with the liver / calcium stones//
It was noted in a 2018 review study (see below) that cancer patients with advanced disease end-stage renal failure, or history of oxaluria, should heed caution in high dose vitamin C therapy, but noted some patients with renal failure have had positive results.
Some warnings were noted about high dose vitamin C possibly causing renal failure or kidney stones, but the paper notes these warnings were not supported in subsequent trials.
I offer this information to assist you to gather your thoughts and approach as quickly as you can. It is not medical advice but I've learned a lot and want to be the person that I wish I could have called. Be sure to discuss with your holistic vet.
Good luck and don't give up. Love, Donna x
Some Reading
Vegetables and Herbs Highest In Vitamin C for Dogs
Kale | Broccoli | Red Cabbage | Moringa (Horseradish Tree) | Brussel Sprouts | Cauliflower | Watercress | Parsley* (Source: SELF Nutrition Data)
* limit to small amounts in meals or treats
Recommended for Vitamin C Boost
Some Research
High Dose Vitamin C – Human Clinical Studies – National Cancer Institute 2017. This is a no-nonsense run down of the human clinical trials that compared intravenous vitamin C therapy, some with and without chemotherapy, with predominantly promising and, some would say, positive results. These guys tell it like it is. See what you think.
Intravenous vitamin C in the supportive care of cancer patients: a review and rational approach – Current Oncology, 139-148, April 2018. This is a great paper. It’s interesting, fair and useful. It reviews the relevant literature to intravenous Vit C (IV C) with chemotherapy, with and without oral dosing of VitC too. It notes that most cancer patients show deficiencies, or low levels, of Vitamin C. It summarises all of the results of those relevant studies and finds that results are predominantly positive, especially with regard to reduced inflammation and alleviated cancer related symptoms such as fatigue, depression, pain, constipation, and general quality of life indicators. The authors propose a ‘rational approach’ (check out Table V) to incorporating IV C into conventional oncology care, particularly prefacing chemotherapy. It also recommends oral dosing in between IV doses to help maintain levels. Obviously it’s focused on humans, as are most of the papers here, but it seems well worth serious consideration in the context of dogs and cancer.
The Role of Vitamin C in the Treatment of Pain – New Insights – Journal of Translational Medicine, 15:77, 2017. This paper overviews research into high dose vitamin C therapy to alleviate pain, including for cancer patients. A significant number apparently experienced reduced pain and increased quality of life. The authors consider the mechanisms for these observed analgesic effects and propose how high dose vitamin C may act as a co-factor for the use of some neuropeptides and has subsequently shown the ability to reduce the need for opioids for many cancer patients studied.
Clinical experience with intravenous administration of ascorbic acid: achievable levels in blood for different states of inflammation and disease in cancer patients – Journal of Translational Medicine, 11:191, 2013. This paper notes that thousands of cancer patients have been treated with intravenous vitamin C (usually at a dose of 0.5g/kg) with no toxic effects. It reviews cancer patient records who received the treatment from one clinic and concluded that “while potentially therapeutic plasma ascorbate concentrations can be achieved with IVC, levels attained will vary based on tumor burden and degree of inflammation (among other factors). Evidence suggests that IVC may be able to modulate inflammation, which in turn might improve outcomes for cancer patients. IVC may serve as a safe, adjunctive therapy in clinical cancer care.”
Effect of high-dose intravenous vitamin C on inflammation in cancer patients – Journal of Translational Medicine, 10:189, 2012. This study gave IV C to 45 cancer patients in one clinic (various cancers) after their conventional treatment. Their results were “positive response to treatment, which was demonstrated by measurements of C- reactive protein, was found in 75% of patients and progression of the inflammation in 25% of patients.” They concluded “our data support the hypothesis that high dose intravenous ascorbate treatments may reduce inflammation in cancer patients. Our results suggest that further investigations into the use of IVC to reduce inflammation in diseases where inflammation is relevant are warranted.”
Skeptical Opinion – Intravenous Vitamin C for Cancer Treatment in Pets – SkeptVet 2013. While this isn’t research it is an objective, if scientifically fundamentalist, review of much of the research into IV C for pets with cancer by a self-proclaimed skeptical vet. While I don’t agree with the perspective (nothing is true in this world until science has proven it in randomised, double blind trials), I respect his opinion and professional experience. I would be being biased and lying by omission if I didn’t include it here for your consideration. It’s well written, resourced and sometimes funny (read some of the responses to comments…). On balance, it does not change my mind that IV C has great results for many cancer patients and, as it has no significant toxic effects and mostly positive ones, it is – to my mind – worth the effort and intention. You decide on what makes sense for you.
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