Vitamin C (incl. high-dose) & Childhood cancers

Written based on 21 research studies on PubMed, searched on 11 Nov 2026.

The claim

Posts online say that vitamin C (incl. high-dose) helps with childhood cancers.

Where research stands

We found 74 published papers on vitamin C (incl. high-dose) and childhood cancers. They were published between 1967 and 2024. 1 of them is a study in people. 1 of them compared people who got it with a group that did not. 7 were studies in animals, and 31 were only in cells in the lab. 6 papers are reviews that sum up other studies.

• 1In people1 with a comparison group
• 7In animals
• 31Only 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

Sources

1. A double-blind, randomized, prospective trial to evaluate topical vitamin C solution for the prevention of radiation dermatitis. CNS Cancer Consortium.1993 · Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys · Randomised trial
2. Association about dietary vitamin C intake on the risk of ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.2020 · Biosci Rep · Review
3. [Vitamin C].2013 · Rev Prat · Review
4. Physiological potential of ascorbate, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol individually and in combination in the prevention of tissue damage, carcinogenesis and immune dysfunction mediated by phagocyte-derived reactive oxidants.1990 · World Rev Nutr Diet · Review
5. Vitamin C supplementation and relief from pain. A review and interpretation.1984 · J Ala Dent Assoc · Review
6. Nutritional aspects of ascorbic acid: uses and abuses.1980 · West J Med · Review
7. Clinical pharmacological aspects of ascorbic acid.1975 · Ann N Y Acad Sci · Review
8. Vitamin C enhances the sensitivity of osteosarcoma to arsenic trioxide via inhibiting aerobic glycolysis.2024 · Toxicol Appl Pharmacol · In animals
9. Pharmacologic ascorbate induces neuroblastoma cell death by hydrogen peroxide mediated DNA damage and reduction in cancer cell glycolysis.2017 · Free Radic Biol Med · In animals
10. The Na+-dependent L-ascorbic acid transporter SVCT2 expressed in brainstem cells, neurons, and neuroblastoma cells is inhibited by flavonoids.2009 · J Neurochem · In animals
11. Nutrient mixture including vitamin C, L-lysine, L-proline, and epigallocatechin is ineffective against tumor growth and metastasis in a syngeneic neuroblastoma model.2008 · Pediatr Blood Cancer · In animals
12. Synthesis and release of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) by mouse neuroblastoma cells: modulation by cyclic nucleotides and ascorbic acid.1985 · Peptides · In animals
13. Sodium ascorbate potentiates the growth inhibitory effect of certain agents on neuroblastoma cells in culture.1979 · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · In animals
14. Ascorbate-induced oxidative stress mediates TRP channel activation and cytotoxicity in human etoposide-sensitive and -resistant retinoblastoma cells.2021 · Lab Invest · In the lab
15. Effect of ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide on mouse neuroblastoma cells.2012 · Mol Med Rep · In the lab
16. Identification of SUMOylated proteins in neuroblastoma cells after treatment with hydrogen peroxide or ascorbate.2010 · BMB Rep · In the lab
17. H(2)O(2)-mediated cytotoxicity of pharmacologic ascorbate concentrations to neuroblastoma cells: potential role of lactate and ferritin.2010 · Cell Physiol Biochem · In the lab
18. Rapid Peroxide Removal Limits the Radiosensitization of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Cells by Pharmacologic Ascorbate.2023 · Radiat Res · Other paper
19. Correction: Ascorbate-induced oxidative stress mediates TRP channel activation and cytotoxicity in human etoposide-sensitive and -resistant retinoblastoma cells.2021 · Lab Invest · Other paper
20. Oral arsenic trioxide, all-trans retinoic acid, and ascorbic acid maintenance after first complete remission in acute promyelocytic leukemia: Long-term results and unique prognostic indicators.2020 · Cancer · Other paper
21. Incomprehensible treatment of retinoblastoma with high doses of vitamin C.2018 · Bratisl Lek Listy · Other paper