Vitamin C

What it is and how it works

Ascorbic acid is a cofactor for hydroxylation reactions essential for collagen synthesis, and is involved in carnitine and catecholamine synthesis, iron absorption and antioxidant defence. Deficiency leads to scurvy with impaired wound healing, bleeding and connective tissue defects.

Indications

Treatment of scurvy and vitamin C deficiency when oral therapy is not feasible or absorption is impaired; supplementation in parenteral nutrition and states of increased requirement.

Dosage and administration (summary)

By slow intravenous injection or infusion, or intramuscular injection; doses depend on the degree of deficiency and clinical situation (e.g. several hundred milligrams daily for scurvy), as directed by the physician.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity; hyperoxaluria or oxalate kidney stones (for high doses).

Warnings and precautions

High doses may cause oxalate nephropathy or stones, especially in renal impairment, and haemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Use with caution in iron overload states (haemochromatosis, thalassaemia), as iron absorption increases. High doses can interfere with laboratory tests such as glucose measurement.

Pregnancy

Safe at recommended doses; avoid high doses.

Storage and supply

Store refrigerated at 2–8 °C, protected from light (or as specified by the manufacturer).

Source: reference summary prepared from the EU SmPC/EPAR, BNF and WHO Model Formulary. The approved product information in Iran governs.