The effect of high-dose vitamin C on renal functions in COVID–19 patients
Asu Özgültekin, Abdulhalim Karayel, Seher Yanatma, Osman Ekinci
Kastamonu Medical Journal, doi:10.51271/kmj-0059
Background: With its important properties, Vitamin C has been used in several diseases and sepsis. COVID-19 may cause sepsis, and therefore high dose Vitamin C has been integrated to the treatment protocols.Concerning the potential risk of oxalate nephropaty related with the use of long term or high dose Vitamin C, we retrospectively evaluated the COVID-19 patients treated with the high dose intravenous Vitamin C, in terms of kidney dysfunction. Material and Method: Critically ill COVID-19 patients who were given Vitamin C 45-50 gr/day/5 days (Group C, n=21), and the ones who did not (Group NC, n=22) along with the hydroxychloroquine-favipiravir treatment were compared in terms of developing renal dysfunction within the 15 days of ICU stay. Results: There were no difference in the development of renal dysfunction between the groups with and without Vitamin C treatment (p>0.05). But when the patients who had KDIGO stage 1 kidney damage on admission, and had worsening renal dysfunction during ICU stay were excluded, patients groups were more similar and the development of the renal failure was significantly more in Vitamin C group(p<0.05).
Conclusion: We conclude that when administering high dose parenteral Vitamin C, kidney functions should be carefully assessed.
ETHICAL DECLARATIONS Ethics Committee Approval: The study was conducted between March and June 2020, after obtaining approval from the local ethics committee (HNEAH-KAEK 2020/KK/157) and Ministry of Health. Informed Consent: Because the study was designed retrospectively, no written informed consent form was obtained from patients. Referee Evaluation Process: Externally peer-reviewed.
Conflict of Interest Statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Financial Disclosure: The authors declared that this study has received no financial support. Author Contributions: All of the authors declare that they have all participated in the design, execution, and analysis of the paper, and that they have approved the final version.
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'Background: With its important properties, Vitamin C has been used in several diseases and '
'sepsis. COVID-19 may cause sepsis, and therefore high dose Vitamin C has been integrated to '
'the treatment protocols.Concerning the potential risk of oxalate nephropaty related with the '
'use of long term or high dose Vitamin C, we retrospectively evaluated the COVID-19 patients '
'treated with the high dose intravenous Vitamin C, in terms of kidney dysfunction.\n'
'Material and Method: Critically ill COVID-19 patients who were given Vitamin C 45-50 gr/day/5 '
'days (Group C, n=21), and the ones who did not (Group NC, n=22) along with the '
'hydroxychloroquine- favipiravir treatment were compared in terms of developing renal '
'dysfunction within the 15 days of ICU stay.\n'
'Results: There were no difference in the development of renal dysfunction between the groups '
'with and without Vitamin C treatment (p>0.05). But when the patients who had KDIGO stage 1 '
'kidney damage on admission, and had worsening renal dysfunction during ICU stay were '
'excluded, patients groups were more similar and the development of the renal failure was '
'significantly more in Vitamin C group(p<0.05).\n'
'Conclusion: We conclude that when administering high dose parenteral Vitamin C, kidney '
'functions should be carefully assessed.</jats:p>',
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