Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) plays an important physiological role in numerous metabolic functions. It is also a cofactor in the synthesis of important substances, in particular catecholamines and vasopressin. A decrease in the level of ascorbic acid has been noted in various diseases, often accompanying the severity of the patient’s state. The aim of this article is to review the current knowledge on the physiological role of vitamin C and the experimental evidences of its use in critically ill surgical patients. The pharmacodynamics of ascorbic acid, the possibility of using high doses of vitamin C are also considered. MEDLINE database on the PubMed platform was used to search for the literature sources with key words: vitamin C, sepsis, shock, trauma, burns.
Crystalline Lens Vitamin C Levels in Cataract Surgical Patients
