Extensive literature demonstrates that cancer patients experience vitamin C deficiency correlated with reduced oral intake, inflammation, infection, disease processes, and treatments such as radiation, chemo-therapy, and surgery9–29. Studies report reductions in inflammatory markers and suggest some improvement in symptoms, with a possible benefit in quality of life (qol) when IV C alone or in combination with oral vitamin C is used in oncologic care.
In doses up to 25 g, IV C can safely be used to treat presump-tive ascorbate deficiency based on symptoms and could favourably affect clinical parameters such as inflammation, fatigue, and qol. Using a rational, evidence-based approach such as that presented in Table v, clinicians can safely provide IV C as supportive care to patients with cancer.