Effect of vitamin C in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock: A meta-analysis

Study answer

What this study found

Pooled randomized evidence suggests adjunct vitamin C improved key outcomes in critically ill patients with sepsis or septic shock. Compared with placebo, vitamin C reduced 28-day mortality and lowered vasopressor dose, while ICU length of stay did not differ. Overall, the review supports a potential survival and hemodynamic benefit for vitamin C in this setting.

Study & population

Systematic review and meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials in adult critically ill patients with sepsis or septic shock.

Intervention

Vitamin C was administered mainly intravenously as adjunct therapy, but dosing and duration varied widely across the included trials.

Key limitation

The evidence base was small, with only nine RCTs and substantial variation in dose, route, and treatment duration across studies.

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Original abstract