Therapeutic potential of mega-dose vitamin C to reverse organ dysfunction in sepsis and COVID-19

Sepsis causes multi-organ dysfunction and is a major cause of death in intensive care units, but there are no treatments that reverse the pathophysiological effects of sepsis. Vitamin C has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant and immune modulatory actions, so is a potential treatment for sepsis. Recent clinical trials of high-doses of intravenous vitamin C (6-16 g/day) had variable effects. Since much higher doses are without side-effects in cancer and burns patients, we studied the effects of a mega-dose of intravenous sodium ascorbate (150 g/40 kg) in a clinically relevant ovine model of sepsis. This treatment dramatically improved the clinical state and over 3-7-h improved cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic and renal function and reduced body temperature. In a critically ill COVID-19 patient, intravenous sodium ascorbate (60 g) restored arterial pressure, improved renal function and increased arterial blood oxygen levels. Clinical trials are testing the effectiveness of mega-dose vitamin C in septic patients.