Vitamin C can prove effective in the fight for cancer prevention, but apples may be better, according to scientists from Cornell University and Seoul National University.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


In a report published in the Lancet medical journal (vol 359, no 9301), Professor C.Y. Lee, a Cornell expert on food science and technology, and his South Korean colleagues, Ki Won Lee, Hyong Joo Lee and Kyung-Sun Kang, explain that vitamin C’s anti-cancer activity is effective because it blocks the carcinogenic effects of hydrogen peroxide on intercellular communication.


Lee comments: “Vitamin C has been considered one of the most important essential nutrients in our diet since the discovery in 1907 that it prevents scurvy.”


Explaining that gap-junction intercellular communication (GJIC) is essential to maintain normal cell growth and strongly related to the carcinogenic process, he adds that vitamin C also “prevents the inhibition of GJIC induced by hydrogen peroxide”.


The report also says, however, that quercetin, a natural phytochemical found in apples, works even better than vitamin C in terms of its anticancer activity.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Lee concludes, “a diet rich in phytochemicals and vitamin C will reduce the risk of cancer”.

Just Food Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Food Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving food industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now