High doses of intravenous vitamin C may reduce the risks of death and sepsis in trauma patients and shorten hospital stays, according to a review published on June 30 in BMJ Military Health.
The researchers said that while the effects of vitamin C are biologically plausible due to its role in tissue repair and recovery, the quality of current evidence is not sufficient to recommend its use for trauma patients. They noted that major trauma triggers a complex physiological response with a high risk of death, and vitamin C is rapidly depleted during critical illness. The nutrient helps boost blood pressure, regulate endothelial function between blood and tissues, and neutralize harmful free radicals.
Vitamin C has been considered as a possible treatment for aiding recovery in trauma patients, including those affected by conflict such as the war in Ukraine. However, this approach has not yet been rigorously reviewed or formally implemented. To expand the evidence base, researchers examined studies published up to the end of 2025 on high-dose intravenous vitamin C's impact on outcomes such as 30-day mortality after hospital discharge, prognostic scoring systems (Apache II, SOFA), complications like sepsis or organ failure, and length of hospital stay.
Out of 108 initial studies identified by database searches, six met criteria for systematic review. These involved a total of 5,171 patients: three were randomized controlled trials while three were observational studies. The included research reported significant reductions in 30-day mortality rates as well as shorter intensive care unit and overall hospital stays among those who received vitamin C. Four studies found lower rates of sepsis; two observed fewer cases of multi-organ failure among treated patients.
"Overall, our findings demonstrate evidence of possible benefit in using high-dose vitamin C in the management of trauma patients," wrote the researchers. They added that variation across study results "suggests that treatment effects may be context-dependent rather than generalisable across all critical illnesses," the researchers wrote. Limitations cited include small sample sizes—half being observational—as well as differences between patient groups, methodologies, dosing regimens, co-interventions, and outcome reporting.
