Administering vitamin C to patients in intensive care unit (ICU) can help shorten their stay, scientists say.
The researchers from University of Sydney in Australia and University of Helsinki in Finland carried out a systematic review of vitamin C for ICU patients.They identified 18 relevant controlled trials, and 12 of them were included in the meta-analysis on the length of stay. On average, vitamin C administration shortened ICU stay by 7.8 per cent. In six trials, orally administered vitamin C with an average dose of 2 grams per day reduced the length of ICU stay on average by 8.6 per cent.
“Vitamin C is a safe, low-cost essential nutrient. Given the consistent evidence from the trials published so far, vitamin C might be administered to ICU patients, although further studies are needed to find out optimal protocols for its administration,” researchers said.
“A few common cold studies have indicated that there may be a linear dose response for vitamin C on common cold duration for up to 6 and 8 grammes per day,” they said .“Evidently the dose response for doses higher than 2 grammes per day should also be investigated for ICU patients,” they added. Given that vitamin C has shown diverse effects on medical conditions, it may influence practical outcomes such as the length of ICU stay, irrespective of the medical conditions affecting a patient, scientists say.Vitamin C is an essential vitamin, meaning it can’t be produced by the body. Nevertheless, it has many roles in your body and has been linked to impressive health benefits. It is water-soluble and found in many fruits and vegetables, including oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, broccoli, kale and spinach.Antioxidants are molecules that boost the immune system. They do so by protecting cells from harmful molecules called free radicals. When free radicals accumulate, they can promote a state known as oxidative stress, which has been linked to many chronic diseases. Studies have shown that vitamin C may help lower blood pressure in those both with and without high blood pressure. An animal study found that taking a vitamin C supplement helped relax the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart, which helped reduce blood pressure levels.Moreover, an analysis of 29 human studies found that taking a vitamin C supplement, on average, reduced systolic blood pressure (upper value) by 3.84 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (lower value) by 1.48 mmHg in healthy adults.Vitamin C may help reduce these risk factors, which may reduce heart disease risk.
