Intravenous Ascorbic Acid and Lung Function in Severely Ill COVID-19 Patients

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Infectious Diseases
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is known to support immune function and potentially mitigate infectious disease severity.
• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe respiratory viral infection with significant lung pathology.
• The role of intravenous ascorbic acid in managing COVID-19 lung complications requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize existing research on the impact of intravenous ascorbic acid on lung function in COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, Cochrane, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Clinical Trial Registry, Google Scholar) from December 2019 to May 2022.
• Six studies examining high-dose intravenous ascorbic acid in severely ill COVID-19 patients were included.

Main Results:

• Three studies reported significant improvements in lung function markers with high-dose intravenous ascorbic acid (12 g/d and 24 g/d).
• Conversely, three studies found no significant effect on lung function or mechanical ventilation needs with other dosages (8 g/d, 2 g/d, 50 mg/kg/d).
• The overall findings regarding intravenous ascorbic acid's effect on COVID-19 lung function are equivocal.

Conclusions:

• The current evidence on intravenous ascorbic acid for improving lung function in COVID-19 patients is inconclusive.
• Larger, double-blinded, randomized clinical trials are necessary to definitively establish the efficacy of ascorbic acid in treating COVID-19-related lung conditions.