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Intravenous Vitamin C (PDQ®): Integrative, Alternative, And Complementary Therapies - Patient Information [NCI]

This information is produced and provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National Cancer Institute via the Internet web site at http://cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.

Overview

  • Vitamin C is a nutrient found in food and dietary supplements. It is an antioxidant and also plays a key role in making collagen (see Question 1).
  • Vitamin C may be taken by mouth or given by an intravenous (IV) infusion. When taken by IV infusion, vitamin C can reach higher levels in the blood than when the same amount is taken by mouth (see Question 2).
  • Some studies of IV vitamin C use in people with cancer showed it improved quality of life and reduced cancer-related side effects (see Question 4).
  • In general, vitamin C given by IV infusion has caused very few side effects in clinical trials. However, IV vitamin C may cause serious side effects in people with kidney disease, G6PD deficiency, or hemochromatosis (see Question 5).
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of IV vitamin C as a treatment for cancer (see Question 7).
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