High-concentration vitamin C infusion therapy
What is the effect of high-concentration vitamin C?
High-concentration vitamin C infusion therapy is, as the name suggests, a treatment that aims to obtain various effects from within the body by administering high-concentration vitamin C intravenously.
The effects of high-concentration vitamin C
When vitamin C is present at a certain concentration in an environment where iron ions are present, such as in blood, it generates hydrogen peroxide, an active oxygen. Normal cells have an enzyme called catalase that can neutralize hydrogen peroxide and are not damaged, but many cancer cells are deficient in catalase, and so are damaged by active oxygen and die.
Vitamin C also works to normalize and activate the function of mitochondria, the intracellular organelles that produce most of the energy used by cells. This has been confirmed to have various effects against cancer, such as activating the immune system.
For these reasons, vitamin C at a certain concentration or above is expected to have two effects: it directly kills cancer cells and it also supports the immune system in fighting cancer.
Effectiveness proven through scientific and medical research
It was not until the 21st century that the effects of high concentrations of vitamin C began to attract attention.
In 2005, researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Cancer Center (NCI), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States published a basic research paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicating that high-concentration vitamin C infusion therapy may be useful for cancer. This caused high-concentration vitamin C infusion therapy to suddenly attract attention.
Then in 2006, researchers from the NIH, NCI, and several universities published a paper using the NIH case report standards on three cases (kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and malignant lymphoma) in which high-concentration vitamin C infusion therapy was clearly effective.
Since then, many research results have been accumulated and clinical evidence has been confirmed, and currently many doctors, particularly in the United States and Canada where the therapy originated, are administering high-concentration vitamin C intravenous therapy to cancer patients.
How to use high-concentration Vitan C infusion therapy
High-concentration Vitan C infusion therapy can be used in a variety of ways.
For example, it may be used to support standard treatments such as chemotherapy with anti-cancer drugs, or in combination with anti-cancer drugs to reduce the side effects of anti-cancer drugs.It may also be used as an alternative medicine for patients who are unable to cure with standard treatment or who refuse standard treatment.
Although high-concentration Vitan C infusion therapy alone can be expected to have an anticancer effect, it may be more effective when combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or with immunostimulants. Our clinic also handles these types of combined therapies.
Vitamin C drip used at our hospital
We are particular about the Vitamin C we use, and use a preservative-free, ultra-high concentration Vitamin C formulation manufactured by Mylan and Biological Therapies.
Treatment Overview
This treatment is an elective medical treatment.
High-concentration vitamin C infusion therapy process
At our clinic, we start with 15g of vitamin C intravenously and then increase the amount to 25g and 50g.
The vitamin C concentration in the blood is measured to determine the appropriate amount of vitamin C to be administered.
Treatment period and frequency
For cancer patients, the most common pattern is two infusions per week for six months.
If the condition progresses smoothly, the administration interval will be extended.
Cost (private medical treatment)
11,000–22,000 yen (tax included) / per session
Risks and Side Effects
In clinical trials in the United States, one case of bleeding from a tumor on the first day of infusion has been reported. It is also known that excessive intake of vitamin C can lead to ureteral stones, but high-concentration vitamin C infusion therapy is said to rarely aggravate ureteral stones. Patients with renal failure undergoing dialysis and those with G6PD deficiency*, a genetic deficiency of an enzyme in the red blood cell membrane, are at risk of worsening their condition and cannot receive high-concentration vitamin C infusion therapy. At our hospital, we perform screening tests for G6PD deficiency* before treatment.
*About G6PD deficiency
"G6PD" is an abbreviation for "glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase," an enzyme that is extremely important in maintaining the function of red blood cells in the blood. When there is little G6PD or its function is insufficient, it is called "G6PD deficiency." G6PD deficiency has almost no effect on daily life, but when vitamin C enters the bloodstream of a person with G6PD deficiency, hydrogen peroxide is produced, which breaks the membrane of red blood cells and causes hemolysis (hemolytic attack). For this reason, people with G6PD deficiency cannot receive high-concentration vitamin C infusions.
Regarding elective medical treatment using unapproved drugs, etc.
Unapproved drugs , etc.
This treatment requires the use of medicines that do not contain preservatives, but these medicines are not available in Japan. The unapproved medicines used in this treatment are not currently approved under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act. In Japan, unapproved medicines can be used at the doctor's own risk.
Acquisition route etc.
Under the doctor's responsibility Available for personal import.
Availability of domestically approved drugs, etc.
There are no other drugs approved in Japan with the same properties that can be used for this treatment.
● Information on safety in foreign countries
- Mylan Vitamin C: It meets the strict standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (USP: United States Pharmacopeia).
・ Biological Therapies Ascorbic Acid Salt (Vitamin C): This product has been granted a sterile manufacturing license by the TGA (Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration) that meets the highest standards of PIC/S (Therapeutic Goods Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Joint Scheme) GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) (standards for manufacturing management and quality control of medicines and quasi-drugs).