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Table 1 Summary of studies of ascorbate administration with vasopressor-related endpoints

From: Ascorbate-dependent vasopressor synthesis: a rationale for vitamin C administration in severe sepsis and septic shock?

Study type

Study group

Intervention

Findings

Reference

Pre-clinical

24 rats (8/group)

Centrally administered ascorbate (0, 200, 600 nmol)

↑ vasopressin release

[62]

   

↑ antidiuresis

 
   

↑ natriuresis

 

Case report

Hospital patient

Intravenous ascorbate (1,500 mg/day)

↑ arterial pressure

[35]

   

↓ heart rate

 
   

Normalised central venous pressure

 
   

↓ need for catecholamines

 
   

Improved multiple organ dysfunction

 

Case report

Hospital patient

Oral ascorbate (500 mg/day)

Resolution of orthostatic hypotension

[36]

Clinical (retrospective)

33 severely burned patients (16–17/group)

Intravenous ascorbate (0, 66 mg/kg/h)

↓ fluid requirement

[39]

   

↓ number of patients requiring vasopressors

 

Clinical (randomised, prospective)

37 severely burned patients (17–18/group)

Intravenous ascorbate (0, 66 mg/kg/h)

↓ resuscitation fluid volume

[38]

   

↑ diuresis

 
   

↓ length of mechanical ventilation

 

Clinical (phase I randomised controlled trial)

24 severe sepsis patients (8/group)

Intravenous ascorbate (0, 50, 200 mg/kg/24 h)

↓ systemic organ failure

[12]

   

↑ systolic blood pressurea

 
   

↑ mean arterial pressurea

 
  1. aPreviously unpublished data (R. Natarajan and A. Fowler)
  2. ↑ increase, ↓ decrease