Among its many, many other benefits, high doses of vitamin C could cripple cancer cells and essentially discourage their reproductive process.
- Researchers conducted an experiment on mice
- They found that BRAF and KRAS gene variants in mutated cancer cells are affected by vitamin C
- Vitamin C shut off the enzyme the cancer cells required for reproduction
- This could be aimed at most types of colorectal cancer
Researchers at Cornell University in New York conducted a study on mice to determine the effect of vitamin on the BRAF and KRAS gene variants. Those have been found to be connected to growth of cancer cells, and are present in over half of all colorectal cancers. By using the naturally occurring vitamin, its spreading could be stopped.
The team of researchers exposed both gene variants to high doses of vitamin C. The overly exposed receptor in the mutated cancer cells absorbed its oxidized form. This is called “oxidative stress”, which causes the natural antioxidant function of vitamin C to essentially kill cancer cells. Or, more accurately, to stop their reproductive process.
Their studies showed that both the BRAF and KRAS gene variants went through a process that essentially shut off the enzyme that encouraged them multiplying. It slowed down the tumors in mice, and quickly put an end to its ability of spreading further through the body. Even more, they found that this is essentially harmless to other cells around it.
In fact, the vitamin C specifically attacked the mutated cancer genes. It exclusively targeted them, while allowing other normal cells to co-exist along with it.
According to lead author of the study, Lewis Cantley, this could pave the way for innovative therapies, using vitamin C as their main weapon. Currently, there are no available treatments that would focus on the mutated cells. The new method could potentially be highly effective in combating, stopping, and killing cancer cells, especially in targeted therapies.
The researchers stated that vitamin C has a huge impact in “inhibiting the growth of colon, liver, prostrate, pancreatic” or other types of cancers. Any type that features either of the mutated gene variants, BRAF or KRAS, could be provided with therapy featuring high doses of vitamin C. The problem is now in finding out if it works just as well on human tumors, not just for mice.
Their study provided with a “mechanistic rationale” for further researching the practical and beneficial uses of vitamin C against cancer. The better news if is that, if it’s true, it’s naturally available and can easily be found.
Vitamin C provides numerous health benefits, including help against heart problems, skin, and boosting the immune system. It’s found in multiple sources, ranging from oranges, apples, peppers, to green vegetables and broccoli. This means a possible solution could be easily acquired.
Image source: flintrehab.com
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