Fatigue is common not only in cancer patients but also after viral and other infections. Effective treatment options are still very rare. Therefore, the present knowledge on the pathophysiology of fatigue and the potential positive impact of treatment with vitamin C is illustrated. Additionally, the effectiveness of high-dose IV vitamin C in fatigue resulting from various diseases was assessed by a systematic literature review in order to assess the feasibility of vitamin C in post-viral, especially in long COVID, fatigue. Nine clinical studies with 720 participants were identified. Three of the four controlled trials observed a significant decrease in fatigue scores in the vitamin C group compared to the control group. Four of the five observational or before-and-after studies observed a significant reduction in pre–post levels of fatigue. Attendant symptoms of fatigue such as sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, depression, and pain were also frequently alleviated. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and circulatory disorders, which are important contributors to fatigue, are also discussed in long COVID fatigue. Thus, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, endothelial-restoring, and immunomodulatory effects of high-dose IV vitamin C might be a suitable treatment option.
【저자키워드】 Depression, Post-viral fatigue, Sleep disturbances, ascorbic acid, lack of concentration, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, Inflammation, Stress, Anti-inflammatory, fatigue, feasibility, knowledge, Vitamin C, Symptom, antioxidant, COVID, infections, pathophysiology, Effectiveness, Pain, Controlled trial, disease, clinical study, Concentration, cancer patient, literature review, High-dose, control group, disorders, participant, significant decrease, positive, immunomodulatory effect, FIVE, IV vitamin C, resulting, lack, reduction in, 【제목키워드】 review, COVID, Vitamin, focus, Long,