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 .
Biochemical and hemodynamic effects of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol in coronary artery surgery
This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid on markers of myocardial reperfusion injury and myocardial contractile function after coronary artery surgery . Forty-eight patients were divided into 4 groups ; 300 mg/day alpha-tocopherol was given orally to the patients in group I for 14 days . In groups II and III , 4 g of ascorbic acid was administered intravenously prior to induction and in the cardioplegic solution , respectively . Group IV was the control group .  Blood sample s were taken to determine the concentrations of creatine phosphokinase MB isoenzyme , malondialdehyde , uric acid , ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol in the perioperative period . Left ventricular functions were determined by means of MUGA scans and echocardiography preoperatively and on the 3rd and 7th days , postoperatively . The changes in serum creatine phosphokinase MB and malondialdehyde were significantly lower in study groups , when compared with the control group . We observed no significant changes in ventricular function , requirement for ( + ) inotropic agents and the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias among the groups , postoperatively . Biochemical findings are consistent with the free radical hypothesis . But we could not confirm these data with hemodynamic findings . This is probably due to the population of low-risk elective coronary surgery patients in this study
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 .