Conclusions Our meta- analysis indicates that vitamin C may prevent post-operative atrial fibrillation in some countries outside of the USA , and it may also shorten the duration of hospital stay and ICU stay of cardiac surgery patients .
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that is safe and inexpensive .
Background Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) , a common arrhythmia contributing substantially to cardiac morbidity , is associated with oxidative stress and , being an antioxidant , vitamin C might influence it .
Oral ascorbic acid in combination with beta-blockers is more effective than beta-blockers alone in the prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting.
Because adrenergic beta antagonists are not sufficient to prevent atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting , this prospect i ve , r and omized trial was design ed to evaluate the effects of ascorbic acid as an adjunct to beta-blockers .  Fifty patients formed our ascorbic acid group , and another 50 patients formed our control group . All patients were older than 50 years , were scheduled to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting , and had been treated with beta-blockers for at least 1 week before surgery . The mean age of the population was 60.19+/-7.14 years ; 67 % of the patients were men . Patients in the ascorbic acid group received 2 g of ascorbic acid on the night before the surgery and 1 g twice daily for 5 days after surgery . Patients in the control group received no ascorbic acid . Patients in both groups continued to receive beta-blockers after surgery . Telemetry monitoring was performed in the intensive care unit , and Holter monitoring was performed for 4 days thereafter . The incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation was 4 % in the ascorbic acid group and 26 % in the control group ( odds ratio , 0.119 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.025 - 0.558 , P = 0.002 ) . We conclude that ascorbic acid is effective , in addition to being well-tolerated and relatively safe . Therefore , it can be prescribed as an adjunct to beta-blockers for the prophylaxis of post-bypass atrial fibrillation
Conclusions Our meta- analysis indicates that vitamin C may prevent post-operative atrial fibrillation in some countries outside of the USA , and it may also shorten the duration of hospital stay and ICU stay of cardiac surgery patients .
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that is safe and inexpensive .
Background Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) , a common arrhythmia contributing substantially to cardiac morbidity , is associated with oxidative stress and , being an antioxidant , vitamin C might influence it .