Vitamin C, EDTA and Ultraviolet in Cancer Treatment
Aim: To assess the effectiveness, safety, and cost effectiveness of vitamin C, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and ultraviolet in treating cancer.
Conclusions and results: Evidence was insufficient to support the effectiveness and safety of vitamin C in treating cancer, and we found no evidence on its cost effectiveness. Our findings were based on 5 studies (1 health technology assessment, 1 large randomized, controlled clinical trial, and 3 small nonrandomized, noncontrolled clinical trials). The possibility to infer findings to vitamin C specifically is limited because the studies used multicomponent interventions. They showed no significant decrease in risk of all-cause mortality, or changes in response rate and overall survival for (combined) vitamin C as a treatment for advanced cancer. In terms of safety, vitamin C was well-tolerated in high doses (oral and intravenous). No evidence was retrieved on the effectiveness, safety, and cost effectiveness of EDTA and ultraviolet in treating cancer.
Recommendations: Vitamin C, EDTA, and ultraviolet are not recommended in cancer treatment until further scientific evidence is available to support their effectiveness, safety, and cost effectiveness.
Methods: We searched electronic databases for scientific literature: PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, INAHTA, and general search engines. The search strategy used the following terms, either alone or in combination: neoplasms [MeSH] AND therapeutics [MeSH]), cancer OR neoplasms; cancer treatment; ascorbic acid [MeSH]; vitamin C; edetic acid [MeSH]; ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid OR EDTA; ultraviolet therapy [Mesh]; ultraviolet treatment. In the PubMed/MEDLINE database, the following limitations applied: humans, clinical trial, meta-analysis, randomized controlled trial, review, and English.
Further research/reviews required: Further evidence is needed on the effectiveness, safety, and cost effectiveness of vitamin C, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and ultraviolet in treating cancer.
Written by: Yusof MAM and Bakri R, MaHTAS, Malaysia