Effects of Oral Vitamin C Supplementation on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Status in Haemodialysis Patients

Background: There is increasing evidence for the presence of oxidative stress and vitamin C deficiency in dialysis patients. Limited data, however, are available regarding the effects of vitamin C supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammation markers in such patients.

Methods: We ran a prospective, randomized, open-label trial to assess the effects of oral vitamin C supplementation (250 mg three times per week) for 2 months on well-defined oxidative and inflammatory markers in 33 chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients.

Results: Normalization of plasma total vitamin C and ascorbate levels by oral vitamin C supplementation did not modify plasma levels of carbonyls, C-reactive protein and albumin, or erythrocyte concentrations of reduced and oxidized glutathione.

Conclusion: Short-term oral vitamin C supplementation did not modify well-defined oxidative/antioxidative stress and inflammation markers in HD patients. Whether a higher oral dose or the intravenous route can modify these markers remains to be determined.