Vitamin C can be given intravenously to achieve much higher blood levels and enhance its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, with limited evidence of improved cancer survival when used with conventional treatments.
How do experts use intravenous vitamin C?
Integrative experts provide recommendations for Intravenous vitamin C in treating people with cancer. Learn more about the approaches and meanings of recommendations: Integrative Oncology Programs and Expert Guidelines ›
Published protocols, programs, and approaches
These protocolsa package of therapies combining and preferably integrating various therapies and practices into a cohesive design for care, programs, and approaches by leaders in integrative cancer care use or recommend Intravenous vitamin C.
We do not recommend specific integrative protocols or programs but provide information for you to evaluate with your healthcare team.
Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, and Karolyn Gazella
Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010.
Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Thriving after Cancer: A Five-Step Integrative Plan to Reduce the Risk of Recurrence and Build Lifelong Health. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. 2013.
These books describe approaches for certain cancer types, or along with certain conventional therapy treatments, or for particular conditions such as insulin resistance.
High-dose vitamin C is used to complement ovarian cancer treatment.
Keith Block, Charlotte Gyllenhaal, Debu Tripathy, Sally Freels, Mark N Mead, Penny B Block, William C Steinmann, Robert A Newman, and Jacob Shoham
Survival impact of integrative cancer care in advanced metastatic breast cancer ›
This protocol for treating advanced breast cancer uses intravenous vitamin C.
Neil McKinney, BSc, ND
McKinney N. Naturopathic Oncology, Fourth Edition. Victoria, BC, Canada: Liaison Press. 2020.
This book includes descriptions and uses of many natural and complementary protocols for cancer in general and for specific cancers. It also includes information on integrative support during conventional cancer treatment.
Uses of intravenous vitamin C:
- Foundation protocol for naturopathic oncology to support chemotherapy and toxicity to cancer cells and improve quality of life
- Help stabilize weight in people with weight loss or cachexia
- Best results in these cancers: lymphomas, lung (non-small cell lung cancer), bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), and bladder cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Because high-dose IV Vitamin C is such a strong pro-oxidant, Dr. McKinney cautions against using it during radiation therapy, as the vitamin C may lessen radiation’s intended pro-oxidant effects, including interrupting abnormal tumor cell proliferation.
- IV vitamin C is incompatible with green tea, so do not use green tea concentrates the day of vitamin C infusions. IVC clears the blood in a very short time, so discontinuing use only on the infusion day is sufficient.
Gurdev Parmar, ND, FABNO, and Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO
Parmar G, Kaczor T. Textbook of Naturopathic Oncology: A Desktop Guide of Integrative Cancer Care. 1st edition. Medicatrix Holdings Ltd. 2020.
This book provides information on the treatment of 24 cancers, plus the most effective treatments of the most common symptoms affecting cancer patients while they undergo chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery.
Uses of intravenous vitamin C:
- Low doses for bringing low ascorbic acid levels up to target ranges, particularly in palliative care and for improving quality of life, reducing inflammation, improving symptoms, and reducing treatment side effects
- Supportive care, usually at lower doses for specific indications
- High doses for oxidative effects during conventional cancer treatment
Nasha Winters ND, FABNO, LAc, DiplOM, and Jess Higgins Kelley, MNT
Winters ND, Kelley JH. The Metabolic Approach to Cancer. 2017. Chelsea Green Publishing.
This book’s metabolic approach to cancer is a “naturopathic nutrition program that uses the medicinal powers of traditional foods, therapeutic diets and non-toxic lifestyle approaches as cancer counteragents and preventives.” The program focuses on 10 terrain elements and how to assess them and bring them into balance.
Uses of intravenous vitamin C:
- Anticancer effect as a pro-oxidant against cancer cells while protecting healthy cells
Other expert assessments
Bastyr University Research Institute and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Intravenous vitamin C is listed among integrative oncology therapies recommended by oncology naturopaths (ND, FABNO) to breast cancer patients.1Standish LJ, Dowd F et al. Breast cancer integrative oncology care and its costs. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2017 Mar;16(1):85-95.
Brian Bouch, MD
Integrative oncologist and CancerChoices advisor Brian Bouch, MD, briefly discusses antioxidants and high-dose vitamin C (IV).
Play videoDosing
The recommended dosing of intravenous vitamin C has not been determined. This book provides dosing recommendations.
General information about dosing
Find general dosing guidelines regarding natural products and supplements in Dosing Guidelines ›
Modulated electrohyperthermia to enhance vitamin C levels
People with stage 3–4 non-small cell lung cancer treated with intravenous vitamin C (IVAA) achieved higher peak concentrations of vitamin C when treated simultaneously with modulated electrohyperthermia (mEHT) compared to IVAA before or after mEHT or IVAA alone in a small randomized comparison trial.2Ou J, Zhu X, Lu Y, et al. A phase I-II clinical trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of high dose intravenous ascorbic acid synergy with mEHT in Chinese patients with stage III-IV non-small cell lung cancer. Annals of Oncology. 2017;28:iii12‐iii13. See Hyperthermia ›
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