Vitamins and mineralsSepsis — Could Vitamin C Save Lives in Hospitals?
Sources: 12 · Article: 14 807 characters
Jerzy Zięba describes a patient with sepsis who recovered after receiving an experimental high dose of vitamin C.
- Andrzej Frydrychowski recommends intravenous administration of 40–200 g of vitamin C per day when life is at risk, including in cases of sepsis.
- Sepsis is life-threatening, and patients require intensive care; the STOP NOP Association also describes antibiotics selected to target the bacteria.
What the authors write
Jerzy Zięba
After receiving 30 g of sodium ascorbate, the patient reportedly recovered from a moribund state.
„This patient was completely cured of a moribund state after being given 30 g of vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbate. The patient spent 22 days in hospital, whereas in Poland we have a therapy that guarantees recovery within one to three days.”Pacjent ten został całkowicie wyleczony ze stanu agonalnego, kiedy podano mu 30 g witaminy C w postaci askorbinianu sodu. Pacjent spędził 22 dni w szpitalu, podczas gdy w Polsce dysponujemy terapią, która gwarantuje wyzdrowienie w ciągu jednego do trzech dni.
Andrzej Frydrychowski
Andrzej Frydrychowski recommends intravenous administration of 40–200 g of vitamin C per day when life is at risk, for example in cases of sepsis.
„In the case of an infection that poses a threat to life—for example, sepsis or a severe viral infection—vitamin C should be administered intravenously in doses ranging from 40 g to as much as 200 g per day. The only mistake we can make is giving too small a dose of the vitamin. And here is where the problem arises.”W razie infekcji, przy której mamy zagrożenie życia – np. sepsa czy silna infekcja wirusowa – należy podawać wit. C dożylnie w dawkach od 40 g do nawet 200 g/dobę. Jedynym błędem, który możemy popełnić, jest podawanie witaminy w zbyt małej dawce. I tutaj pojawia się problem.
Andrzej Frydrychowski
Andrzej Frydrychowski writes that intravenous administration of vitamin C at such doses is prohibited.
„Intravenous administration at such doses is prohibited. Anyone who administers vitamin C this way will face proceedings before the Medical Chambers. Explaining that this method is recommended in hundreds of scientific publications does no good. Our esteemed colleagues sitting on the Medical Chambers and Medical Courts are deaf to all scientific arguments.”Podawanie dożylne w takich dawkach jest zabronione. Kto w ten sposób poda witaminę C ma sprawę w Izbach Lekarskich. Tłumaczenie, że metoda ta jest polecana w setkach publikacji naukowych, nic nie daje. Szanowni koledzy zasiadający w Izbach i Sądach Lekarskich są głusi na wszelkie naukowe argumenty.
Jerzy Zięba
Jerzy Zięba presents a Polish therapy as guaranteeing recovery within one to three days.
„This patient was completely cured of a moribund state after being given 30 g of vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbate. The patient spent 22 days in hospital, whereas in Poland we have a therapy that guarantees recovery within one to three days. But who cares?”Pacjent ten został całkowicie wyleczony ze stanu agonalnego, kiedy podano mu 30 g witaminy C w postaci askorbinianu sodu. Pacjent spędził 22 dni w szpitalu, podczas gdy w Polsce dysponujemy terapią, która gwarantuje wyzdrowienie w ciągu jednego do trzech dni. Kogo to jednak obchodzi
Jerzy Zięba
Jerzy Zięba says that no doctor in any hospital has used the solution for sepsis that he proposes.
„Although I have been pointing out a very simple solution to this problem for years, doctors in no hospital have yet used it. Why? Because they have no procedure, and they will do nothing even when a solution is handed to them on a plate. This procedure exists and has been described in the so-called”Kiedy od lat wskazuję na banalnie proste rozwiązanie tego problemu, lekarze w żadnym szpitalu jeszcze tego nie zastosowali. Dlaczego? Dlatego, że nie mają procedury i nic nie zrobią, nawet mając rozwiązanie podane na tacy. Ta procedura jest i została opisana w tzw.
Jerzy Zięba
When no proven effective treatment is available, a doctor may consider an unproven method after consulting an expert and obtaining the consent of the patient or their representative.
„Point 37 of this declaration clearly states: “In the treatment of a patient, where proven interventions do not exist or have been ineffective, the physician, after seeking expert advice and with informed consent from the patient or the patient’s legal representative, may use an unproven intervention if, in the physician’s judgment, it offers hope of saving life, re-establishing health or alleviating suffering.” https://nil.org.pl/uploaded_files/art_1585807090_deklaracja-helsinska-przyjeta-na-64-zo-wma-pazdziernik-2013-pelny-tekst.pdf
So what?”Deklaracja ta w punkcie 37 wyraźnie mówi: „Podczas leczenia pacjenta tam, gdzie sprawdzone interwencje nie istnieją lub też okazały się nieskuteczne, lekarz po zasięgnięciu porady eksperta i uzyskaniu świadomej zgody pacjenta lub jego przedstawiciela ustawowego, może zastosować interwencję o nieudowodnionej skuteczności, jeśli w ocenie lekarza daje ona nadzieję na ratowanie życia, przywrócenie zdrowia lub przyniesienie ulgi w cierpieniu”.https://nil.org.pl/uploaded_files/art_1585807090_deklaracja-helsinska-przyjeta-na-64-zo-wma-pazdziernik-2013-pelny-tekst.pdf
I co?
Jerzy Zięba
The organization described by Jerzy Zięba supplies hospitals with sodium ascorbate and a treatment protocol for the attending doctors.
„The organizers of the Sepsis Emergency Service provide assistance to all confirmed cases of sepsis by delivering sodium ascorbate and a protocol to the hospital where the patient is staying, and handing them over to the attending doctors. The service is free of charge. Sodium ascorbate is funded by the Visanto brand.”Organizatorzy pogotowia sepsowego, wszystkim potwierdzonym przypadkom sepsy zapewniają pomoc polegającą na dostarczeniu askorbinianu sodu i protokołu do szpitala, w którym przebywa chory i przekazanie go lekarzom prowadzącym. Usługa jest bezpłatna. Fundatorem askorbinianu sodu jest marka Visanto.
Stowarzyszenie STOP NOP
Sepsis can lead to failure of vital organs and poses an immediate threat to life.
„Sepsis poses an immediate threat to the patient’s life because it can cause failure of several vital organs, such as the kidneys, liver, heart and lungs. A distinction should be made between so-called hospital-acquired sepsis and sepsis caused by infections acquired outside the hospital.”Sepsa stanowi bezpośrednie zagrożenie życia pacjenta, ponieważ w jej przebiegu dochodzi do niewydolności wielu kluczowych dla życia narządów, takich jak nerki, wątroba, serce i płuca. Należy odróżnić sepsę tzw. szpitalną od sepsy wywołanej przez zakażenia nabyte poza szpitalem.
Stowarzyszenie STOP NOP
Patients with both hospital-acquired and community-acquired sepsis mainly require treatment in intensive care units.
„Because of the rapid progression of the disease and the patients’ serious condition, those with both hospital-acquired and community-acquired sepsis mainly require treatment in intensive care units. The bacteria that cause community-acquired sepsis, such as meningococci, are usually more sensitive to antibiotics than the bacteria that cause hospital-acquired sepsis.”Chorzy z sepsą zarówno szpitalną, jak i pozaszpitalną, ze względu na gwałtowny przebieg i ciężki stan wymagają leczenia głównie na oddziałach intensywnej opieki medycznej. Bakterie wywołujące sepsę pozaszpitalną (jak na przykład meningokoki) są zazwyczaj bardziej wrażliwe na antybiotyki niż bakterie powodujące sepsę szpitalną.
Stowarzyszenie STOP NOP
For pneumococcal sepsis, a third-generation cephalosporin and vancomycin may be needed, and antibiotic selection should take microbiological test results into account.
„Sepsis caused by pneumococci, which may be resistant to penicillin, may require a third-generation cephalosporin and vancomycin. The choice of appropriate antibiotics for targeted sepsis treatment should be based on microbiological test results, which make it possible to determine which antibiotics will work best against a given bacterium.”Natomiast sepsa wywołana przez pneumokoki, które mogą być niewrażliwe na penicylinę, wymagać może podania cefalosporyny III generacji i wankomycyny. Dobór odpowiednich antybiotyków w terapii celowanej sepsy powinien być oparty na wynikach badań mikrobiologicznych, pozwalających na określenie, jakie antybiotyki najlepiej zadziałają na daną bakterię.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 4 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 585.
A meta-analysis found that vitamin C was associated with lower mortality, improved SOFA scores, and shorter use of medicines that raise blood pressure.
Aim of the study: Clinical rationale for study: Despite advancements in critical care, the mortality rate of sepsis remains high, with an overall poor prognosis. There is a complex pathophysiology of a lethal cascade of cytokines and inflammatory proteins underlying sepsis.
Results: In patients treated with vitamin C, there was a statistically significant reduction in the mortality: OR = 0.778 (0.635 to 0.954), p = 0.016; the sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA): MD = −0.749 (−1.115 to −0.383), p < 0.001; and the duration of vasopressor requirement: MD = −1.034 days (−1.622 to −0.445), p = 0.001. No significant difference was found in the hospital or ICU length of stay. Conclusions and clinical implications: Vitamin C treatment regimens were associated with reduced mortality, SOFA score, and vasopressor requirement compared to the control in sepsis. Given its low cost and minimal adverse effects, we strongly encourage further large, randomized trials to establish vitamin C as a standard of care in sepsis management.
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studycombined analysis of many studies (meta-analysis)
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A meta-analysis found that intravenous vitamin C was associated with lower 28-day mortality, shorter use of medicines that raise blood pressure, and greater improvement in SOFA scores, although evidence of a survival benefit was of low quality.
Aim of the study: The adjunctive therapeutic value of vitamin C in sepsis or septic shock patients remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of intravenous administration of vitamin C in sepsis or septic shock patients through meta-analysis.
Results: Fourteen randomized controlled trials enrolling 1,958 patients were eligible for assessment. Meta-analysis demonstrated that intravenous vitamin C reduced 28-day mortality in sepsis or septic shock patients compared to the control group (RR 0.70; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.93; P = 0.02; I 2 = 52%), based on low quality of evidence, and subgroup analysis showed the benefit was driven by single-center studies, not observed in multicenter trials. Vitamin C shortened the duration of vasopressor use (SMD = -0.42, 95% CI -0.77 to -0.08, P = 0.02) and was associated with a greater reduction in SOFA score (MD = -1.04, 95% CI -1.83 to -0.25, P = 0.01), but did not reduce vasopressor dose, length of stay, or 24-h urine output. No significant adverse events were reported. This meta-analysis suggests that intravenous vitamin C might be associated with reduced mortality in sepsis, but the benefit was not confirmed in low-risk-of-bias multicenter trials and was primarily driven by single-center studies.
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studyreview of many studies
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A meta-analysis found an improvement in SOFA scores after more than 72 hours of treatment, while the reduction in mortality was not statistically significant.
Aim of the study: Sepsis is a high-incidence disease and demands intensive care. Finding effective treatment is the key to cure sepsis.
Results: Our review demonstrates that intravenous (IV) vitamin C might improve short-term mortality (RR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.65-1.02; P=0.07; and I 2 = 45%) and overall mortality (RR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-1.01; P=0.06; and I 2 = 51%) of patients with sepsis. Moreover, the SOFA score of patients with sepsis improved significantly after treatment with vitamin C for over 72 hours (RR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.09-0.42; P=0.002; and I 2 = 0%). The main results of our study were moderate-quality evidence. More high-quality, multicenter RCTs are needed to provide more substantial evidence on the efficacy and safety of IV vitamin C for sepsis.
Money for the studygovernment, public institutions · Sichuan Province Youth Science and Technology Innovation Team, Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studycombined analysis of many studies (meta-analysis)
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In a small retrospective study, treatment combining vitamin C, hydrocortisone, and thiamine was associated with lower in-hospital mortality and shorter use of medicines that raise blood pressure.
Aim of the study: The global burden of sepsis is estimated as 15 to 19 million cases annually, with a mortality rate approaching 60% in low-income countries.
Results: There were 47 patients in both treatment and control groups, with no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. The hospital mortality was 8.5% (4 of 47) in the treatment group compared with 40.4% (19 of 47) in the control group (P < .001). The propensity adjusted odds of mortality in the patients treated with the vitamin C protocol was 0.13 (95% CI, 0.04-0.48; P = .002). The Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment score decreased in all patients in the treatment group, with none developing progressive organ failure. All patients in the treatment group were weaned off vasopressors, a mean of 18.3 ± 9.8 h after starting treatment with the vitamin C protocol. The mean duration of vasopressor use was 54.9 ± 28.4 h in the control group (P < .001).
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studyobservation of people
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Perspectives and opinion materials
The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Thomas Levy, an expert on the use of vitamin C, says that sepsis is due in large part to vitamin C depletion. Sepsis is essentially a rapid-and-acute-onset scurvy, and very high dose vitamin C can prevent sepsis mortality. Several studies and meta-analyses indicate that intravenous vitamin C can significantly reduce sepsis mortality. [35-40] However, some studies have found no effect of vitamin C upon sepsis, and these results have been cited widely as "evidence" against intravenous vitamin C therapy in sepsis. [35,40] However, a problem with many studies that tested vitamin C against sepsis is that they administered an inadequate dose.”Thomas Levy, an expert on the use of vitamin C, sepsis is due in large part to vitamin C depletion. Sepsis is essentially a rapid-and- acute-onset scurvy, and very high dose vitamin C can prevent sepsis mortality. Several studies and meta-analyses indicate that intravenous vitamin C can significantly reduce sepsis mortality. [35-40] However, some studies have found no effect of vitamin C upon sepsis, and these results have been cited widely as "evidence" against intravenous vitamin C therapy in sepsis. [35,40] However, a problem with many studies that tested vitamin C against sepsis is that they administered an inadequate dose.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„For the media to disparage, discourage and even dismiss vitamin therapy for sepsis is irresponsible at best and criminal at worst. Sepsis is a major killer among hospitalized patients. Hundreds of research studies have already shown the absolute necessity of supplemental vitamin C for this life-threatening condition. Dr. Marik has intelligently, and compassionately, based his protocol on well-established clinical science. He has saved patients' lives. Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the person actually doing it. Decide for yourself: Dr.”For the media to disparage, discourage and even dismiss vitamin therapy for sepsis is irresponsible at best and criminal at worst. Sepsis is a major killer among hospitalized patients. Hundreds of research studies have already shown the absolute necessity of supplemental vitamin C for this life-threatening condition. Dr. Marik has intelligently, and compassionately, based his protocol on well-established clinical science. He has saved patients' lives. Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the person actually doing it. Decide for yourself: Dr.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Intravenous high-dose vitamin C treatment for 2019-nCoV disease The results of meta-analyses have been demonstrated that intravenous (IV) high-dose vitamin C treatment has significant benefits in the treatment of sepsis and septic shock. [14,15] Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction syndrome triggered by a systemic inflammatory reaction to pathogenetic microorganisms and their products. ARDS, devastating and often lethal condition, is also common among patients with systemic inflammatory response, such as sepsis [16].”Intravenous high-dose vitamin C treatment for 2019-nCoV disease The results of meta-analyses have been demonstrated that intravenous (IV) high-dose vitamin C treatment has significant benefits in the treatment of sepsis and septic shock. [14,15] Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction syndrome triggered by a systemic inflammatory reaction to pathogenetic microorganisms and their products. ARDS, devastating and often lethal condition, is also common among patients with systemic inflammatory response, such as sepsis [16].
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