GETTY A diet rich in vitamin C could help to fight cancer, a study claims

US researchers found high doses of vitamin C found in fruits such as oranges and green leafy vegetables such as kale and broccoli may be a new weapon against the disease. The study suggests that vitamin C may “tell” faulty stem cells in our bone marrow to mature and die. That means the traditional blood cancer danger cells would naturally disappear – instead of multiplying to cause leukaemia.

The findings were uncovered by researchers from Perlmutter Cancer Center in New York and published in the cancer journal Cell. Perlmutter director Professor Benjamin G. Neel said: “We’re excited by the prospect that highdose vitamin C might become a safe treatment for blood diseases caused by leukaemia stem cells, most likely in combination with other targeted therapies.” Vitamin C is an antioxidant and several previous studies had hinted that high levels could affect cancer cells. High vitamin C fruit and vegetables include bell peppers, dark leafy greens, kiwifruit, broccoli, berries, oranges, tomatoes, green peas, and papayas.

GETTY The study suggests that vitamin C may 'tell' faulty stem cells in our bone marrow to mature and die

The current recommended daily value for vitamin C is 60mg taken from either fruit and vegetables or tablet supplements.

This should not prompt anyone receiving treatment for cancer to change their diet Anna Perman

The New York study explored the link between vitamin C and a “tumour suppressor” protein enzyme in the human body called TET2. The enzyme helps to guard against blood cancers such as leukaemia and is believed also to protect against heart disease. But mutations in the gene affect about one per cent of the over-65s, making them extremely susceptible to blood cancer. Although TET2 loss does not create cancer, it helps to create the conditions for blood cancers to thrive.

GETTY Vitamin C is found in fruits such as oranges and green leafy vegetables such as kale and broccoli

Scientists in the New York study found that, in mice engineered to have just small amounts of TET2, high doses of vitamin C given intravenously dramatically activated the enzyme. The study found changes in the genetic code that reduces TET2 function are found in 10 per cent of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The scientists also claim that, when they implanted leukaemia cancer stem cells from human patients into mice, high doses of vitamin C suppressed the cells’ growth.

Food that can increase risk of bowel cancer Wed, June 21, 2017 Bowel cancer: Foods that can increase your risk of developing the killer disease. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 12 Food that can increase risk of bowel cancer

GETTY The current recommended daily value for vitamin C is 60mg taken from either fruit and vegetables