Written based on 17 research studies on PubMed, searched on 11 Nov 2026.
The claim
Posts online say that vitamin C (incl. high-dose) helps with acute myeloid leukaemia.
Where research stands
We found 33 published papers on vitamin C (incl. high-dose) and acute myeloid leukaemia. They were published between 1980 and 2025. 3 of them are studies in people. None of them compared people who got it with a group that did not. 2 were studies in animals, and 13 were only in cells in the lab. 4 papers are reviews that sum up other studies. 2 new studies in people are running or will start soon, say the trial registers. 1 research project on vitamin C (incl. high-dose) for acute myeloid leukaemia is funded and still running.
- 3In people
- 2In animals
- 13Only in the lab
What the studies found
We have not summed up these studies in words yet. The most important papers are listed under Sources.
Verdict
Vitamin C (incl. high-dose) has been studied in people with acute myeloid leukaemia, but not in randomised trials.
What this means for you: A study in people is not proof that it helps you. Do not stop or change your medicines because of it. Ask your doctor before you start taking it.
Sources
- Adding ascorbic acid to arsenic trioxide produces limited benefit in patients with acute myeloid leukemia excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia.2014 · Ann Hematol · Study in people
- Combination decitabine, arsenic trioxide, and ascorbic acid for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia: a phase I study.2011 · Am J Hematol · Study in people
- Depletion of L-ascorbic acid alternating with its supplementation in the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes.2009 · Eur J Haematol · Study in people
- Vitamin C deficiency in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a case series and review of the literature.2023 · Blood Adv · Review
- The Anti-Leukemia Effect of Ascorbic Acid: From the Pro-Oxidant Potential to the Epigenetic Role in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.2022 · Front Cell Dev Biol · Review
- Emerging epigenetic therapeutics for myeloid leukemia: modulating demethylase activity with ascorbate.2021 · Haematologica · Review
- Ascorbic acid and cancer.1987 · Ann N Y Acad Sci · Review
- Retinoic acid and ascorbate synergize to suppress myeloid leukemia via TET2 activation.2025 · Cell Rep · In animals
- Association of Leukemia Target Genes Tet2, Bcl2, and Slc23a2 in Vitamin C Pathways.2019 · Cancer Genomics Proteomics · In animals
- Targeting the redox vulnerability of acute myeloid leukaemia cells with a combination of auranofin and vitamin C.2024 · Br J Haematol · In the lab
- Ascorbate Plus Buformin in AML: A Metabolic Targeted Treatment.2022 · Cancers (Basel) · In the lab
- [Effect of High Dose Vitamin C on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells].2020 · Zhongguo Shi Yan Xue Ye Xue Za Zhi · In the lab
- The synergy of Vitamin C with decitabine activates TET2 in leukemic cells and significantly improves overall survival in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia.2018 · Leuk Res · In the lab
- Appraising ascorbic acid as a chemoprevention agent for acute myeloid leukaemia using Mendelian Randomisation.2024 · Blood Cancer J · Other paper
- Ex Vivo Anti-Leukemic Effect of Exosome-like Grapefruit-Derived Nanovesicles from Organic Farming-The Potential Role of Ascorbic Acid.2023 · Int J Mol Sci · Other paper
- Vitamin C and D supplementation in acute myeloid leukemia.2023 · Blood Adv · Other paper
- Pharmacological GLUT3 salvage augments the efficacy of vitamin C-induced TET2 restoration in acute myeloid leukemia.2023 · Leukemia · Other paper
