Yeom, C. H., Jung, G. C., & Song, K. J. (2007). Changes of terminal cancer patients’ health-related quality of life after high dose vitamin C administration. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 22, 7–11.

Patients were given an intravenous administration of 10 g of vitamin C twice daily with a three-day interval and an oral intake of 4 g of vitamin C daily for one week. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at the end of the intervention.

• The sample was comprised of 39 patients with terminal cancer.
• Mean age was 53.5 years.
• The ratio of males to females was 20:19.
• Patients had varied diagnoses, the most common being stomach cancer.
• All patients were at stage IV, and 12 patients experienced a recurrence of their cancers.

Department of Family medicine, Myungji-Hospital, Kwandong University College of Medicine

Patients were undergoing the end of life phase of care.

The study was a prospective, nonrandomized trial.

European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30)

The vitamin C intervention significantly improved fatigue in patients after one week of treatment, as mean fatigue scores dropped from 52 (standard deviation [SD] = 24) to 40 (SD = 19) (p < 0.001).

• The study lacked a control group.
• When given high doses of vitamin C, patients have the risk of developing hemolysis and, therefore, should be screened for deficiency before receiving treatment.