Multiple myeloma is a rare form of cancer that affects plasma cells, a type of cell found in bone marrow that produces antibodies. According to U.K. National Health Service's website, NHS Choices, multiple myeloma accounts for about 1 percent of all cases of cancer and mostly affects people over 40 years old. There is no cure for multiple myeloma, but chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation help slow the disease's progression and prolong life. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, might also play a role in the treatment of multiple myeloma, although evidence to show it treats the cancer itself is lacking. Talk to your doctor before adding vitamin C supplements to your treatment plan.
Properties and Potential Benefits
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin vital for tissue repair and growth. A potent antioxidant, vitamin C helps protect cells from damage by free radicals, small molecules that are produced when the body converts food into energy. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that it may also help prevent numerous conditions, including heart disease, atherosclerosis and osteoarthritis, and adds that eating vitamin C-rich foods might be associated with lower rates of cancer.
Research
The results of a clinical study of 50 patients with multiple myeloma, published in the May 2009 edition of the journal "Leukemia and Lymphoma," suggest that this type of cancer is closely linked with oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant capacity -- two phenomena that vitamin C may help improve or protect against. The results of a phase 2 study in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients published in the "European Journal of Hematology" in June 2009 show that administering vitamin C alongside two anti-cancer drugs, bortezomib and melphalan, helped control the disease in 94 percent of patients.
Administration
Vitamin C is found in a host of foods, including green peppers, papaya, grapefruit, strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens, winter squash and pineapple. It is also available as a dietary supplement in tablets or capsules. Guidance regarding a suitable dosage to support the treatment of multiple myeloma is lacking, although your doctor or oncologist should be able to advise you.
Safety
Get medical advice before using vitamin C if you are undergoing treatment for cancer, because large doses of antioxidants, like vitamin C, might interfere with chemotherapy drugs. Taking a vitamin C supplement might also cause mild side effects like diarrhea and stomach upset. Aside from chemotherapy drugs, vitamin C supplements might interact with other medicines, including barbiturates, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and oral contraceptives.
References
- NHS Choices: Multiple Myeloma
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
- "Leukemia and Lymohoma"; Study of Antioxidant Levels in Patients With Multiple Myeloma; A. Sharma, et al.; May 2009
- "European Journal of Hematology"; Bortezomib, Ascorbic Acid and Melphalan (BAM) Therapy for Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: An Effective and Well-Tolerated Frontline Regimen; J.R. Berenson, et al.; June 2009
