The search for treatments and a cure for the various kinds of cancers has led to a broad range of studies and research trying to find out what causes the disease. Some people point to ascorbic acid, the scientific name for vitamin C, as both a potential cause of and cure for cancer, but there is little to no research that supports either of these claims. While vitamin C is a necessary part of everyone's diet, there is no evidence to suggest the nutrient leads to any kind of cancer.
Ascorbic Acid
Ascorbic acid is a nutrient found in various plants and the animals that ingest them. This nutrient is vital to human health and plays an important role in a variety of bodily functions, including repairing wounds and as a key part of cell growth and repair. Vitamin C is most commonly found in foods such as cantaloupe, mangoes, papayas and various kinds of citrus fruits, as well as vegetables such as broccoli, sweet potatoes and peppers.
Cancer
Cancer is the name given to one of a wide number of diseases in which the body's cells begin growing abnormally and uncontrollably. Cancer is, behind heart disease, the second leading cause of death in the United States, according to Mayo Clinic.com. A variety of factors may lead to cancer, and a person's age, drinking and smoking habits, genetic history and environmental conditions all play a role in the disease's development in humans.
Ascorbic Acid and Cancer
According to Balz Frei, Ph.D., director of Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute, vitamin C does not cause cancer. While some studies have shown that vitamin C treatments may aid in the treatment of the disease, there is not enough evidence to show that even high doses of the substance are cures or therapies for the disease, and they should not be used as such.
Cancer Causes
Cancer is caused by the body's inability to stop cells from growing and dividing. This uncontrolled cell growth is the result of gene mutations that themselves can result from different causes, such as genetic factors, hormones in the body, viruses and other causes, according to MayoClinic.com.
References
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Vitamin C Doesn't Cause Cancer!; Balz Frei, Ph.D.
- MedlinePlus: Vitamin C
- MayoClinic.com; Cancer; May 2010
- Quackwatch; High Doses of Vitamin C Are Not Effective as a Cancer Treatment; Stephen Barrett, M.D.
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Vitamin C; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; January 2006
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