THE USE OF INTRAVENOUS HIGH-DOSE VITAMIN C IN THE TREATMENT OF IMPLANTED HEPATOMA IN RATS.

Objective: To study the effect of high dose Vitamin C, administered intravenously, on treating implanted hepatoma in rats. Methods: Rats implanted with hepatoma were treated with high-dose Vitamin C 2.83g/kg or 5.65g/kg intravenously and compared to a "model" (control) group. The liver function (A/G, ALT, AST, and GGT), tumor volume and weight, and cancer necrotic grades were determined. Results: The A/G of rats with 2.83g/ kg Vitamin C treatment was greater than that of the model rats (P<0.05), ALT was less than that of the model rats (P<0.01), GGT was less than that of the model rats (P<0.05). The ALT of rats with 5.65g/kg Vitamin C treatment was less than that of the model rats (P<0.05). The cancer necrosis rate of rats with 2.83g/kg Vitamin C treatment was more than that of model rats (P<0.05). Previously reported data indicates that 2.83g Vitamin C /kg body weight delivered intravenously to rats is equivalent to a dose of 30g intravenous Vitamin C /60kg in humans. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the intravenous administration of Vitamin C at levels of 2.83g/kg Vitamin C can accelerate hepatoma Walker256 cell death and protect the liver function in implanted hepatoma rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]