It is impossible to pinpoint the reasons why some people develop cancer. Sometimes the disease is caused by genetics or lifestyle. Other times, it seems to happen out of the blue. But while we can’t ultimately control whether or not we have cancer, we can stack the odds in our favor by eating healthy foods and taking the right supplements. Research supports this theory, and according to a recent scientific review, vitamin C may help reduce the risk of a wide variety of cancers, including breast, cervical, bladder, and lung cancers.
A closer look at the study
published in the magazine Frontiers in Nutrition, the review was written by researchers at Sichuan University, in Chengdu, China. The team explained that vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps the human body complete essential tasks and absorb other nutrients. It is also one of the most common micronutrients available in fruits and vegetables. It’s no surprise, then, that scientists have long studied vitamin C for its potential ability to reduce cancer risk.
However, not all studies and scientific reviews have shown that vitamin C reduces the risk of cancer. So the researchers reviewed more than 3,500 articles in hopes of coming up with a more concrete answer. They examined all the articles included in their research and did not use studies written in languages other than English, or studies that used animals other than humans. Ultimately, the researchers narrowed their review to 57 studies.
After poring over the data, they found that vitamin C intake was linked to a lower risk of these cancers:
- Bladder
- Chest
- endometrial
- Prostate
- Renal
- Cervical
- Lung
Vitamin C was also correlated with a lower risk of recurrent breast cancer and death from breast cancer.
Additionally, higher vitamin C intake was associated with a lower risk of esophageal, gastric, and pancreatic cancer. The vitamin didn’t seem to make a big difference for colon and colorectal cancers.
Why might vitamin C reduce the risk of certain types of cancer?
Based on what we already know about vitamin C, the researchers theorized that this micronutrient might protect against cancer because it is an antioxidant. Specifically, vitamin C can reduce cell damage caused by carcinogens, or Substances that can cause cancer. humans (such as aflatoxin, asbestos or tobacco smoke).
How much vitamin C should you take?
Some researchers believe that the recommended dose should be 75 to 110 milligrams per day, and 90 to 100 milligrams may be optimal. In this scientific review, participants in all studies took at least 100 milligrams a day.
This does not mean that you should take much higher doses than that. Too much vitamin C, especially in supplement form, can cause symptoms such as diarrhea and nausea. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you want to increase your daily value with supplements. Whether you choose to add supplements to your diet or meet your vitamin C requirements only with fruits and vegetablesyou can rest easy knowing that a regular dose can reduce your risk of cancer.
