Andrew Ringler

If you haven’t been wasting your money overdosing on vitamin-c supplements you might be happy to know that vitamin C still doesn’t cure cancer. David Gorski writes a nice analysis “High dose vitamin C and cancer: Has Linus Pauling been vindicated?” on several recent studies meant to ascertain potential benefits of vitamin C in cancer prevention. It is a very long read (but well worth it) as vitamin C in relation to cancer has a long history with plenty of misinformation. Since 1972 when Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling first proposed that vitamin C can prevent cancer and later claimed (without basis) that “75% of all cancer can be prevented and cured by vitamin C alone” there has been a plethora of research attempting to prove just that. Pauling recommended (without credible evidence) taking in excess (orally) of 1000mg/day of vitamin C. Compare that to the accepted recommended daily allowance (RDA) for an adult male age 19-70 of 90mg of vitamin C (Dietary Reference Intakes DRIs). For reference the RDA is meant to be appropriate for 97-98% of the population and certain individuals might possess disorders that require supplements.

With that bit of quick history please read David Gorski’s excellent summary (as mentioned above) of the new vitamin C studies that alternative medicine proponents are flouting. Some other related articles: The Dark Side of Linus Pauling’s Legacy, Should I Take a Multivitamin?, Dietary Guidelines

A recent survey was completed to assess misbeliefs in cancer prevention across high/low income countries.  Steven Novella writes a short and interesting article on “Attitudes and Public Health” that generalizes the survey: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=197

The basic premise is that there is a growing demand in the U.S. for patients to become more involved in their own health care.  Unfortunately at the same time patients are poorly informed about the basic scientific facts necessary to intelligently make these decisions.  For example: “people in high-income countries were the least likely to believe that drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer”.

All of this illustrates the need to continue to support and expand science education in schools and accurate science reporting in the media.  In addition to basic scientific knowledge, critical thinking skills are necessary to absorb and accurately integrate new information.  Critical thinking is often overlooked or poorly taught in our science curriculum.  There is growing momentum to teach critical thinking as a discipline in its own right and such organizations as the JREF (http://www.randi.org/) are helping that effort.