Vitamin C May Nearly Halve the Risk of Death in a Precancerous Blood Condition

Taking high-dose vitamin C every day may nearly halve the risk of death in patients with a precancerous blood condition and may also help reduce severe complications. Researchers from the Van Andel Institute in the United States and Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark reached this conclusion following the international EVITA study.

The EVITA trial involved 109 volunteers who were at increased risk of blood cancer or had been diagnosed at an early stage. Researchers initially hoped that vitamin C would completely stop the growth of abnormal cells. Although this expectation was not fully met, the study found that some serious complications occurred less often in the group receiving vitamin C.

In particular, complications such as pneumonia, anemia, and internal bleeding were reported less frequently. After three years of follow-up, 24 people in the placebo group had died, compared with 11 among those who regularly received vitamin C.

Some patients experienced mild stomach-related side effects from the high dosage. Even so, the study reported higher overall survival in the vitamin C group.