Intravenous vitamin C against acute respiratory distress syndrome: A narrative review

Background

The use of intravenous vitamin C (IV-Vit-C) in the context of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been a topic of interest and research. ARDS is a severe and life-threatening form of respiratory failure that can be triggered by various factors, including infections, trauma, and inflammatory conditions. Some studies and clinical trials have explored the potential benefits of high-dose intravenous vitamin C in the treatment of ARDS, particularly in the context of severe respiratory illnesses such as those caused by viral infections.

Methods

Two literature reviews are performed by using the google scholar data base (scholar.google.com), one searching for “CITRIS-ALI”, and the other searching for “COVID-19 Vitamin C”, without any time restrictions, and selecting specific works, and citing or cited works, deemed appropriate. All the works included in the c19early.org data base are then indirectly considered through their statistical summary of improvements.

Results

Most of the studies support the use of IV-Vit-C against ARDS in general, including the COVID-19 induced ARDS. From the statistical analysis of 66 COVID-19 Vit-C studies, both IV and oral, there is a 18 % improvement in prophylaxis (RR 0.82 CI 0.69–0.97), a 37 % improvement in early treatment (RR 0.63, CI 0.41–0.98), and 21 % improvement in late treatment (RR 0.79, CI 0.70–0.88). Specific to this latter result are 39 studies of the 66.

Conclusions

While IV-Vit-C was not a cure for COVID-19, it was a pragmatic but effectual means to reduce the COVID-19 mortality in cases of late infections and ARDS. IV and oral Vit-C may be considered one of the tools treating general ARDS.