Effects of intake of L-ascorbic acid on the incidence of dermal neoplasms induced in mice by ultraviolet light.
We have carried out a study of large malignant skin tumors (squamous cell carcinomas) and other lesions in hairless mice (groups of 38-45) intermittently exposed to ultraviolet light over a period of 15 weeks, beginning when the mice were about 10 weeks old. The several groups were given a standard diet with 0%, 0.3%, 5%, and 10% added L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) throughout the study. No lesions developed in unirradiated control groups. The lesions were counted every 14 days for 4 months, beginning 4 weeks before the end of the period of irradiation. The observed incidence of lesions of several sizes during successive time periods was analyzed by the statistical method recommended by a committee of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. A pronounced effect of vitamin C in decreasing the incidence and delaying the onset of the malignant lesions was observed with high statistical significance.
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*
D001205:Ascorbic Acid