Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that serves as antioxidant and plays a major role as co-factor and modulator of various pathways of the immune system. Its therapeutic effect during infections has been a matter of debate, with conflicting results in studies of respiratory infections and in critically ill patients. This comprehensive review aimed to summarize the current evidence regarding the use of vitamin C in the prevention or treatment of patients with SARS-CoV2 infection, based on available publications between January 2020 and February 2021. Overall, 21 publications were included in this review, consisting of case-reports and case-series, observational studies, and some clinical trials. In many of the publications, data were incomplete, and in most clinical trials the results are still pending. No studies regarding prevention of COVID-19 with vitamin C supplementation were found. Although some clinical observations reported improved medical condition of patients with COVID-19 treated with vitamin C, available data from controlled studies are scarce and inconclusive. Based on the theoretical background presented in this article, and some preliminary encouraging studies, the role of vitamin C in the treatment of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection should be further investigated.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, immune regulation, antioxidant, ascorbic acid, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, respiratory infections, clinical trial, SARS-COV-2 infection, Vitamin C, Infection, clinical trials, immune system, antioxidant, observational studies, SARS-CoV2 infection, respiratory infection, Critically ill, Patient, pathway, Vitamin, respiratory, critically ill patients, Evidence, essential nutrient, Factor, available data, debate, therapeutic effect, matter, modulator, Inconclusive, prevention of COVID-19, reported, investigated, treated, clinical observation, patients with COVID-19, patients with SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, Vitamin C, Vitamin,