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Science 15 June 2001:
Vol. 292. no. 5524, p. 1961
DOI: 10.1126/science.292.5524.1961m
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The use of high doses of antioxidants such as vitamin C to protect against cancer has been controversial. Advocates cite epidemiological studies that have revealed an association between high intake of vitamin C and reduced risk of cancer, as well as laboratory studies that demonstrate roles for vitamin C in free-radical scavenging and immune stimulation. Opponents cite the negative results of randomized clinical trials testing antioxidant therapy as well as laboratory evidence that vitamin C might also have a pro-oxidant effect. Lee et al. (p. 2083) now present in vitro data, which show that vitamin C can induce genotoxin formation (agents that damage DNA). If generated in significant amounts, these genotoxins, which are the products of vitamin C-enhanced decomposition of lipid hydroperoxides, could generate cancer-causing mutations.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)