Scientists have studied the effect of vitamin C on precancerous blood diseases
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- Scientists have studied the effect of vitamin C on precancerous blood diseases
Scientists have studied the effect of vitamin C on the condition of people with precancerous and early forms of blood cancers. In a study involving 109 patients, vitamin C supplementation over a year was associated with changes in inflammatory signals and differences in survival at follow-up. At the same time, the main indicator of the study — the growth rate of precancerous or cancerous cells — did not differ between the groups. About what the study of vitamin C in people with blood diseases has shown, see the "Izvestia" article.
How was the vitamin C study conducted?
The results of the second phase clinical trial of EVITA are published in the journal Cancer. It involved 109 patients from Denmark and the USA. They had either a blood disease that can turn into cancer, or a low-risk form of blood cancer.
At the beginning of the analysis, 55 participants were randomly assigned to the group of oral vitamin C intake at a dosage of 1,000 mg per day, and 54 more people received a placebo. The study lasted a year. The scientists assessed, among other things, the growth rate of precancerous or cancerous cells. This indicator was the main end result of the study.
What changes were found in the participants
The main indicator — the growth rate of precancerous or cancerous cells — turned out to be similar in the two groups. At the same time, the participants who took vitamin C had changes in inflammatory signals that corresponded to more favorable results.
Participants who took vitamin C were also less likely to have anemia, pneumonia, acute aseptic arthritis, and internal bleeding. At the same time, gastrointestinal problems, on the contrary, were observed more often.
Researchers have studied vitamin C because of its effect on cellular TET proteins. These enzymes help control which genes turn on and off. Decreased activity of TET enzymes is one of the common factors in the development of certain forms of blood cancer.
What the follow-up showed
The median follow—up period was almost three years, 33.6 months. During this time, 35 deaths were registered among the participants.: 24 in the placebo group and 11 among those receiving vitamin C.
Additional analysis showed that participants in the vitamin C group were more likely to stay alive during the follow-up period. The authors note that this result needs to be confirmed in a larger phase three study.
Peter A. Jones, PhD Emeritus from the Van Andel Institute in Michigan and co-author of the study
The EVITA study gives us good reason to continue exploring whether and how vitamin C can benefit people with precancerous conditions or early-stage blood cancers. More research is needed.
Why further research is needed
The results obtained so far do not allow us to make recommendations on the use of vitamin C. The authors emphasize the need for a larger study that will help to obtain more definite answers.
Kirsten Grenbeck, MD and PhD from Rigshospitality, Copenhagen University Hospital and co-author of the study
We are excited about our findings and what they may ultimately mean for people with these early-stage blood diseases.
Grenbek also noted that it is too early to make recommendations based on the results obtained, and further research should help confirm the conclusions.
Thus, the study found no differences between the groups in the main indicator — the growth rate of precancerous or cancerous cells. The difference in survival was revealed during the exploratory analysis and requires confirmation in the third phase study.
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