WELLINGTON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Research shows the vitamin has a far more important role in the body than previously thought, said New Zealand scientists Friday.

    Dr Margret Visser from the Christchurch School of Medicine said Vitamin C is fundamental in controlling many cell activities, cell death and even the growth of cancer cells in tumors.

    Visser's group is working on whether something as simple as vitamin C can be used to limit the impact of cancer.

    She said the regulation of cell life and death is what underlies a lot of disease mechanisms and in particular the cancer disease.

    Visser said this is not a cure for cancer but she and her team will now focus their research on the vitamin C levels within cancer cells to try to establish a connection.