Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and is the second leading cause of death by cancer amongst men and women, according to the Colon Cancer Alliance.
The American Cancer Society estimates 49,700 colon cancer deaths in the U.S. in the year 2015.
Vitamin C is well known for its potent health benefits and antioxidant effects. New research from Weill Cornell medicine in New York shows that vitamin C may fight colon cancer.
The researchers found that in cell cultures and mice, high doses of vitamin C (about 300 oranges worth) inhibited the growth of colon cancer tumors.
When vitamin C enters the arteries, part of it is transformed into a new compound called dehydroascorbic acid (DHA). The study shows that DHA acts like a Trojan horse once it enters the body. Once it enters the body, the natural antioxidants in cancer cells attempt to convert DHA back to its original form. In the process, the antioxidants in the cancer cell are depleted, and the cell dies.
The researchers hope that the new research will lead to new therapies and treatments in the future. However, they do believe that more research is needed.
“This is not a therapy that you would want to wander into blindly without knowledge of what is going on in your tumor,” says Dr. Lewis Cantley, senior author of the study.
The study showing that vitamin C may fight colon cancer was published in Science Mag.
Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
DON’T FORGET to sign up for our weekly newsletter to get our latest articles, updates, free recipes and giveaways.
Vegetarian diet lowers colon cancer risk.
For the top colon cancer fighting foods.
For a colon cleanse recipe.
REFERENCES:
1. “Colon Cancer Statistics.” Colon Cancer Alliance. Colon Cancer Alliance, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
2. “300 Oranges’ worth of Vitamin C Impairs Cancer Cells.” Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
3. “Vitamin C Selectively Kills KRAS and BRAF Mutant Colorectal Cancer Cells by Targeting GAPDH.” Science Mag. Science Mag, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
