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potential to reduce the ability of patients responding to treatment Mark Heaney, a researcher at the Centre for the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Now, the U.S. research team showed the negative impact of a variety of vitamin C in the effectiveness in a wide range of anticancer drugs in laboratory tests with cancer cells. The scientists found that each of the drugs tested did not work so well if cells were pretreated with vitamin C. Thus, between 30% and 70% less cancer cells treated with vitamin C were killed, depending on the drug. Further tests showed that while chemotherapy kept untreated cancer in check, tumors grew more rapidly in mice that were inoculated cancer cells pretreated with vitamin C. Free Radicals Scientists say vitamin C accumulates in cancer cells than in healthy. Some types of cancer drugs produce molecules known as free radicals that can react with other molecules in the cancer cell, forcing his death. In theory, vitamin C could mop up free radicals, keeping the cancer cell alive despite chemotherapy treatment. However, the researchers found that key is that vitamin C neutralizes free radicals, but that appeared to protect tiny structures found inside cancer cells called mitochondria. The mitochondria is what creates the energy of the cell and if damaged can lead to cell death. According to the investigator Mark Heaney, "Vitamin C appears to protect the mitochondria of widespread damage, thus saving the cell." The protective effect of vitamin C is counterproductive in cancer cells Mark Heaney, a researcher at the Centre for the Sloan-Kettering Cancer "Whether directly or not, most cancer drugs seeking to alter the mitochondria to the cell dies." A previous study developed by the same group of scientists appears to show that vitamin C accumulates in cancer cells than healthy cells. The amounts of vitamin C used in the study are equivalent to those found in supplements containing high doses of the vitamin. According to Dr. Heaney, Vitamin C is probably good for healthy cells, "but it is counterproductive to its protective effect in cancer cells." "The use of vitamin C may have the potential to reduce the ability of patients responding to treatment." Balanced diet Experts recommend that vitamins are taken through a varied and balanced diet. As he told the BBC Dr Joanna Owens, of the British charity Cancer Research UK, the study is interesting but is still at its early stage. "No sufficient evidence to know whether antioxidants such as vitamin C are beneficial or harmful during cancer treatment." "It is possible that high doses of antioxidants may be less effective treatments, but until we are sure our advice is to take the vitamins needed by a varied and balanced diet rather than through vitamin supplements." Pamela Mason, a scientific adviser Supplements Information Service for Health (Health Supplements Information Service) of the United Kingdom, believes that one can not draw any conclusions until the investigation is conducted in humans.