Dr. Ivan Rusilko is a strong believer in the power of intravenous vitamin therapy. The Miami Beach physician (who's also a former model, two-time Mr. USA, and erotic-fiction novelist) custom-mixes IV concoctions he says can boost energy levels, improve sex lives, and strengthen immune systems.In fact, Rusilko — profiled in this week's New Times feature about Miami's IV vitamin craze — says if he were ever diagnosed with cancer, he would skip chemotherapy in favor of intravenous vitamin C. That's a bold claim. But is there any scientific evidence to back up the idea?The short answer is evidence suggests vitamin C might help in some cancer treatments, but it's too early to believe it could be a cure-all. High-dose vitamin C has been studied as a cancer treatment since the 1970s, when Nobel Prize-winning chemist Linus Pauling advocated it. Several initial studies showed favorable results, but later trials by the Mayo Clinic failed to confirm any benefits. After that, vitamin C as a cancer treatment moved to the realm of alternative therapy.
But those studies tested vitamin C taken orally. Some IV proponents argue that vitamin C administered intravenously yields stronger benefits — and in recent years, several studies have shown promising results, renewing interest in the treatment. One study found intravenous vitamin C boosted the effectiveness of chemotherapy in mice and mitigated side effects in humans, according to the Los Angeles Times.The Times reported that despite the study's findings, vitamin C "is unlikely to inspire the vigorous, and expensive, research necessary to become an approved tumor remedy" because of past discredited health claims and the inability of pharmaceutical companies to patent it. Laboratory studies have shown high doses of vitamin C might slow the growth and spread of certain types of cancer cells, the National Cancer Institute says. And some laboratory and animal studies have shown vitamin C plus anticancer therapies could be helpful. Florida Panthers v Chicago Blackhawks Florida Panthers v Montreal Canadiens
Florida Panthers v St. Louis Blues Fight Time PRO MMA However, the institute noted, other studies have found certain types of vitamin C might make chemo less effective. And IV vitamin C is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for cancer or any other medical condition. Other studies are underway. Writes Dr. Timothy J. Moynihan, an oncologist: "Until clinical trials are completed, it's premature to determine what role, if any, intravenous vitamin C may play in the treatment of cancer."Detoxification, almost by definition, supports the immune system. Deficiency and Toxicity are two grisly horsemen of the apocalypse of our health destiny. It is not quite that dramatic, certainly not the final cataclysmic battle. Many individuals suffer and even die if they do not adequately support their immune system. We know many ways to enhance our detoxification and thereby our immunity. Let us use IV Vit C as a clear example of detox and support.
Intravenous Detoxification and Immune Support Vitamin C intravenously may give major detoxification, while it boosts our immune function. We also usually include in the IV a wide and deep spectrum of vitamins and minerals. If I were marooned on a desert Island and could have only one treatment to use for any medical problem that came along, I would probably choose IV Vitamin C. Vit C is a major anti-oxidant, thereby useful for combating various toxicities that invade us from the toxic civilization that we are forced to enjoy. It also acts as a natural antibiotic with one of the mechanisms being the hydrogen peroxide VitC produces when it reaches very high concentrations in the blood and in the tissues. The hydrogen peroxide acts as biological “flamethrower,” in the white cells, killing the invading microbes. Because we can achieve much higher blood levels of VitC when given IV, we can get much more dramatic therapeutic effects than if we used it orally. We numerous IV, IM (intra-muscular), transdermal (through the skin), as well as oral and other methods to detoxify our immune function and the other organs and tissues that that have vital health functions.
Remember, cancer risk increases with many deficiencies and toxicities. Low Vit D, for example, has now proven to be a significant cancer risk, increasing the danger by perhaps 55%. Heavy metal toxicity increases the risk of many health threats, such as High Blood Pressure, Heart Disease, and neurologic loss. Of course, our old nemesis Lyme Disease, will be at its most dangerous, like most infections, when the immune system is compromised. The list is literally endless. Although our treatment arsenal contains many possible methods for detox and support, sometimes we must rely on the heavy weapons, such as Intravenous Therapies. We definitely use juice diet detox, herbal cleanse, protein and fibre programs, and other specialized ways to cleanse the accumulated toxinx. Of course we always prioritize to the least invasive treatment that will work. We are fortunate to have these powerful intravenous allies to combat the two horseman of the health apocalypse.Skip to Main Content Try our beta test site
Study of High-Dose Intravenous (IV) Vitamin C Treatment in Patients With Solid Tumors The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) given by injection into the vein. The second and third purpose of conducting this study is to observe any evidence of tumor response to the vitamin C and compare the level of fatigue (weakness), pain control, ability to do things, and quality of life, before and after vitamin C is given. Intervention Model: Single Group AssignmentMasking: Open LabelPrimary Purpose: Treatment A Phase I Study of High-Dose IV Vitamin C Treatment in Patients With Solid Tumors Drug Information available for: Evaluate the safety and tolerability of high dose IV vitamin C as a monotherapy [ Time Frame: 1-1/2 years ] Evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of IV vitamin C at varying doses [ Time Frame: 1-1/2 years ] Determine if vitamin C accumulates with repeated daily therapy by measuring peak and nadir levels [ Time Frame: 1 year ]
Evaluate patient quality of life [ Time Frame: Duration of Study ] Observe patients for clinical and radiological evidence of anti-tumor activity at the end of treatment [ Time Frame: Duration of Study ] July 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) Preclinical studies of pharmacologic doses of vitamin C (ascorbic acid, ascorbate) have shown significant anticancer effects in animal models and tissue culture investigations including cytotoxic effects in certain cancer cell lines at micromolar to millimolar concentrations. Early clinical studies have shown that intravenous and oral doses of vitamin C may improve symptoms and prolong survival in terminal cancer patients. More recent double-blind placebo-controlled studies have shown that oral adminstration of vitamin C provides no benefit to cancer patients. Conversely, intravenous vitamin C administration raises plasma concentrations as high as 14 mM/L, and concentrations of 1-5 mM/L have been found to be selectively cytoxic to tumor cells in vitro.
The proposed Phase I trial with vitamin C should achieve millimolar concentrations of vitamin C that have been shown to kill tumor cells in vitro. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD), PK, possible drug accumulation with repeated dosing, quality of life, pain response, fatigue status, and hints of efficacy in patients with advanced cancer will be examined. Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older (Adult, Senior) Sexes Eligible for Study: Primary histological diagnosis of advanced solid tumors (stage 3 and 4) and measurable disease. Disease must have progressed for which no available treatment provides clinical benefit. 18 years of age or older. No scheduled cancer therapy (chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immune therapy, or radiation therapy) for three months after study entry, and the subject must have had their last therapy at least four (4) weeks prior to entry to this study. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2.
Informed Consent - The patient must be willing and able to sign the informed consent prior to the start of the trial. Willingness to comply with the weekly phone calls between office visits. Willingness to undergo central line placement (e.g., port-a-catheter, central venous catheter, percutaneously inserted central catheter [PICC] line placement) and able to manage care of the entry site safely. Patients must be able to take food orally or have peg tube for feeding. Life expectancy of at least 3 months. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) (a relative contraindication) Renal insufficiency as evidenced by serum creatinine of ≥ 1.3 mg/dl or evidence of oxalosis by urinalysis. Iron overload (a ferritin > 500 ng/ml). Compromised liver function with evidence of complete biliary obstruction or have a serum bilirubin of 2.0 or liver function tests (AST > 63, ALT > 95) exceeding 1.5 x the upper limit of normal. Pregnant or lactating female.
Evidence of significant psychiatric disorder by history or examination that would prevent completion of the study or preclude informed consent. Aspirin use exceeding 325 mg per day. Acetaminophen use exceeding 2 g per day. Brain metastases that have not responded to therapy. Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies. Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00441207 CTCA @ Midwestern Regional Medical Center Zion, Illinois, United States, 60099 Midwestern Regional Medical Center Chris Stephenson, DO, Midwestern Regional Medical Center Other Study ID Numbers: Keywords provided by Midwestern Regional Medical Center: