Evidence Suggests Vitamin C May Someday Be Used To Treat Cancer

British researchers who tested the effect of several substances, including natural compounds, on cancer stem cells found that vitamin C was significantly better at stopping cell growth. The researchers tested seven substances in the lab: the clinically-approved drug stiripentol, three natural products – caffeic acid phenyl ester (CAPE), silibinin and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) – and experimental pharmaceuticals actinonin, FK866 and 2-Deoxy-D-glucose molecule (2-DG). Vitamin C was found to be ten times more effective at stopping cancer stem cell growth than pharmaceuticals. The researchers believe vitamin C inhibits glycolysis in cancer stem cells, the process that fuels energy production in mitochondria, the "powerhouse" of the cell. [ Image credit: © NIH/ODS ]