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Metabolic and immune effects of enteral ascorbic acid after burn trauma
J L Nelson1, J W Alexander, P A Jacobs
1Shriners Burns Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Insights
High doses of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) improved body weight and metabolic rate in burned guinea pigs. This suggests vitamin C supplementation may aid recovery from burn trauma.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Nutritional Science
- Trauma Research
Background:
- Burn trauma significantly impacts immune and metabolic functions.
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) plays a crucial role in immune response and metabolic processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of varying vitamin C dosages on immune and metabolic responses in a burned guinea pig model.
- To determine if vitamin C supplementation influences infection resistance and recovery post-burn.
Main Methods:
- A burned guinea pig model (30% body surface area burn) was used.
- Animals received enteral diets with differing vitamin C levels: 0, 15, 75, or 375 mg/kg/day.
- Infection resistance was assessed via Staphylococcus aureus injection and abscess evaluation.
- Body weight and metabolic rates were monitored post-burn.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in Staphylococcus aureus clearance were observed between groups.
- High-dose vitamin C (375 mg/kg/day) group showed improved body weight maintenance (102% of preburn weight).
- The high-dose vitamin C group exhibited significantly lower metabolic rates compared to other groups.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin C supplementation, particularly at high doses, may benefit body weight maintenance following burn trauma.
- Large amounts of vitamin C appear to positively modulate metabolic rate after burn injury.
- Further research is warranted to explore the therapeutic potential of high-dose vitamin C in burn management.
Abstract:
A burned guinea-pig model (30 per cent BSA) was used to study the effect of vitamin C on immune and metabolic responses following burn trauma. Thirty-six guinea-pigs received identical enteral diets (175 kcal/kg) except for the amount of vitamin C. Groups I, II, III and IV were given formulae delivering no vitamin C, (1 RDA) 15 mg/kg/day, 75 mg/kg/day or 375 mg/kg/day, respectively. Resistance to infection was evaluated by injecting each animal with 0.1 ml of 1 x 10(9) Staph. aureus 502A subcutaneously on day 10. On day 14, Staph. aureus abscesses were excised and the numbers of viable colonies were determined. Results showed no statistical differences between groups in the clearance of Staph. aureus. From days 2 to 12, animals in groups I, II and III had body weights of approximately 97 per cent of preburn body weight. Animals in group IV, however, had a body weight gain, 102 per cent of preburn body weight on day 12. Animals in group IV also had significantly lower metabolic rates on day 12 as compared to the animals in the other groups. These results suggest that large amounts of vitamin C have beneficial effects on the maintenance of body weight and metabolic rate following burn trauma.