Key Takeaway
IV vitamin C significantly reduced overall mortality and 28-day mortality in sepsis patients but did not improve 30-day or 90-day mortality.
Summary
This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled data from randomized controlled trials examining the effect of intravenous vitamin C on mortality in patients with sepsis. The review included studies published through 2022 and assessed multiple mortality endpoints.
The meta-analysis found that IV vitamin C significantly reduced overall mortality (pooled risk ratio favoring treatment) and 28-day mortality in sepsis patients. However, it did not show a statistically significant benefit for 30-day or 90-day mortality, suggesting the survival benefit may be most pronounced in the short term.
Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool, and funnel plots were generated to evaluate publication bias. The authors concluded that while short-term mortality benefits exist, longer-term outcomes require further investigation with larger, well-designed RCTs. The heterogeneity across studies was notable, reflecting differences in vitamin C dosing protocols, patient populations, and sepsis severity.
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