Is there a role for oral or intravenous ascorbate (vitamin C) in treating patients with cancer? A systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many cancer patients receive supplemental ascorbate (vitamin C) in the belief that it synergizes the anticancer effects of chemotherapy and reduces its toxicity.

Methods

A systematic review was performed to evaluate the antitumor effects and toxicity of ascorbate treatment. Medline (1946 to March 2014), EMBASE (1947 to March 2014), and the Cochrane central register (1993 to March 2014) were searched for randomized and observational studies.

Results

Of 696 identified records, 61 full-text articles were screened and 34 were included. In total, 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n = 322), 12 phase I/II trials (n = 287), 6 observational studies (n = 7,599), and 11 case reports (n = 267) were identified. Because of study heterogeneity, no meta-analyses were

SUBMITTER: Jacobs C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4319640 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature