The multifaceted role of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, in cellular homeostasis has been underscored, with particular emphasis on its involvement as a co-factor in crucial hydroxylation reactions, facilitation of collagen formation, and participation in enzymatic reactions crucial for maintaining cellular and tissue functions. Moreover, its attributed capacity to neutralize free radicals, protect cells against oxidative stress, and mitigate inflammatory responses accentuates its potential therapeutic significance. This review aims to comprehensively explore the contemporary understanding of vitamin C's therapeutic implications in sepsis and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) based on the relevant publications from the past years. While previous investigations have encompassed a range of study designs, including epidemiological research, this presented paper deliberately narrows its focus to recent randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and the latest systematic meta-analysis involving only RCTs, providing a higher level of evidence than observational studies. An exception is made for a meta-analysis examining vitamin C's role in COVID-19 patients, including previous RCTs and retrospective studies. The question in the present paper is whether vitamin C is efficacious in preventing and treating critical illnesses, particularly sepsis and COVID-19. The current evidence is still insufficient based on available publications from the last years and recent metaanalyses on this topic. Accordingly, larger high-quality randomized clinical trial studies are needed to provide more definitive insights into the efficacy of vitamin C in addressing critical illnesses.
Keywords: Ascorbate; ascorbic acid; COVID-19; intensive care unit; sepsis; vitamin C
Askorbik asit olarak da bilinen C vitamininin hücresel homeostazdaki çok yönlü rolü, özellikle önemli hidroksilasyon reaksiyonlarında yardımcı bir faktör olarak rol oynaması, kolajen oluşumunu kolaylaştırması ve hücresel ve doku fonksiyonlarını sürdürmek için çok önemli enzimatik reaksiyonlara katılımı ile vurgulanmaktadır. Ayrıca potansiyel terapötik önemi serbest radikalleri nötralize etme, hücreleri oksidatif strese karşı koruma ve inflamatuar yanıtları azaltma kapasitesine dayandırılmaktadır. Bu derlemede, geçmiş yıllardaki ilgili yayınlar temel alınarak C vitamininin sepsis ve koronavirüs hastalığı2019'daki (COVID-19) terapötik etkilerinin kapsamlı ve güncel bir şekilde araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Önceki araştırmalar, epidemiyolojik araştırmalar da dâhil olmak üzere bir dizi çalışma tasarımını kapsarken, sunulan bu makale bilinçli olarak randomize klinik çalışmalara ve yalnızca gözlemsel çalışmalara kıyasla daha yüksek düzeyde kanıt sağlayan randomize klinik çalışmaları içeren en son sistematik metaanalizlere odaklanmaktadır. COVID-19 hastalarında C vitamininin rolünü inceleyen hem önceki randomize klinik çalışmaları hem de retrospektif çalışmaları içeren bir metaanaliz için bir istisna yapılmıştır. Sunulan bu makaledeki soru, başta sepsis ve COVID-19 olmak üzere kritik hastalıkların önlenmesinde ve tedavisinde C vitamininin etkili olup olmadığıdır. Son yıllardaki mevcut yayınlara ve bu konudaki son metaanalizlere dayalı mevcut kanıtlar hâlen yetersizdir. Buna göre C vitamininin kritik hastalıklarda etkinliği hakkında daha kesin bilgiler sağlamak için daha büyük yüksek kaliteli randomize klinik çalışmalara gereksinim vardır.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Askorbat; askorbik asit; COVID-19; yoğun bakım ünitesi; sepsis; vitamin C
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