From: Evidence is stronger than you think: a meta-analysis of vitamin C use in patients with sepsis
Study | Year | Design | n | Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria | Participant characteristics | Dose of vitamin C | Outcomes reported | Quality assessment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marik et al. [7] | 2017 | Retrospective before-after study | 94 | Primary diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock and a procalcitonin level ≥ 2 ng/mL | < 18 years, pregnant, or with limitations of care | Mean age for treated group 58.3 years, 57% male; mean age for control group 62.2 years, 49% male | 1.5 g IV every 6 h | Hospital mortality, ICU-LOS, duration of vasopressors, RRT for AKI, reduction in serum procalcitonin and SOFA over the first 72 h | Neither randomized nor blinded, although propensity-adjusted; protocol included intravenous hydrocortisone and thiamine, in addition to vitamin C |
Fowler et al. [3] | 2014 | Prospective phase I trial | 24 | Diagnosis of severe sepsis | < 18 years, pregnant, prisoners, cognitively impaired and unable to provide consent, or non-English speakers | Age for treated group: 30–92 years, 56% male; age for control group: 54–68 years, 50% male | 50 mg/kg/day, or 200 mg/kg/day | Vitamin C safety and tolerability, days on vasopressor, ventilator-free days, ICU-LOS, 28-day mortality | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, but underpowered |
Zabet et al. [6] | 2016 | Prospective clinical trial | 28 | Adult (18–65 years) with diagnosis of septic shock and required vasopressor drug to maintain MAP > 65 mmHg |  | Mean age for treated group 64.14 years, 71% male; mean age for control group 63.71 years, 79% male | 25 mg/kg IV every 6 h | Vasopressor dose and duration, ICU-LOS, 28-day mortality | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, but small sample size |