Evaluation of Vitamin C as a Personalized Adjuvant Medicine: Pharmacogenomic Studies

Background: Although clinicians failed to reproduce Pauling and Cameron’s earlier reports on the therapeutic effects of vitamin C on cancer, new information on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of vitamin C as well as new clinical data has provided more in depth understanding of the critical aspects of vitamin C’s therapeutic effects. Previous clinical studies suggested that vitamin C, introduced to cancer patients by intravenous and oral pathways, might improve their symptoms. Methods: This review summarizes and focuses on different pharmacological effects of vitamin C that are currently under investigation in pharmacogenomic studies related to transporter gene polymorphism. Conclusion: From the information available, it seems clear that vitamin C is involved in a variety of disease mechanisms. This review might provide an evaluation of vitamin C as a personalized adjuvant medicine.