Radiation from medical imaging such as CT scans and X-rays can damage DNA which could lead to cancer. The risk is real, especially for the young, but this fact is rarely communicated to patients. The good news is the damage can be greatly reduced.
- A large Australian study analyzing 10.9 million children 19 years or younger found the overall cancer incidence was 24% greater for those exposed to CT scans than for those unexposed.
- Another large study from the UK is even more unsettling – those younger than 22 who had two or more CT scans increased their risks of leukemia and brain cancer by 318% and 282%, respectively.
- The DNA damage from radiation can be greatly reduced, but unfortunately, the prevailing clinical practice pays no attention to it.
- Studies have consistently demonstrated vitamin C supplementation prevents and repairs DNA damage induced by radiation. This is no surprise – vitamin C is one of the strongest antioxidants.
- Both human and animal studies show taking 1-3 g vitamin C before CT scans can reduce DNA damage by up to 80 percent.
- It should be noted that for those undergoing cancer radiation therapy there is a concern that vitamin C supplementation may not only protect normal but also cancer cells from radiation.
The bottom line: Radiation from medical imaging damages DNA, which could induce cancer. Fortunately, the damage can be substantially reduced by taking vitamin C before the procedure. Equally important, talk to your radiologist to make sure the radiation dosage is optimal – often the dosage is much larger than needed and at other times dosage mistakes are made. Despite the preventive benefit, talk to your doctor(s) before taking vitamin C which could interact with your medications.
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