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 .
The role of ascorbic acid in the prevention of atrial fibrillation after elective on-pump myocardial revascularization surgery: a single-center experience--a pilot study.
Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) is a common arrhythmia that occurs postoperatively in cardiac surgery . There is evidence for the role of oxidative stress in the etiology of AF . In our study , we examined whether antioxidant ascorbic acid ( vitamin C ) , could help in the reduction of the incidence of postoperative AF . Patients who were scheduled to undergo elective isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting ( CABG ) were included in our study . One hundred and seventy patients were r and omly divided in two groups : Group A ( n=85 ) received vitamin C preoperatively and postoperatively whereas Group B ( n=85 ) did not receive any ( control group ) . The incidence of AF was 44.7 % in the vitamin C group and 61.2 % in the control group ( P=0.041 ) . The hospitalization time , the intensive care unit stay and the time interval for the conversion of AF into sinus rhythm was significantly shorter in the vitamin C group . Patients that developed AF also had longer hospital length of stay ( 9.5±2.8 days vs. 6.7±1.9 , P=0.034 ) . Supplementation of vitamin C reduces the incidence of postCABG AF , and decreases the time needed for rhythm restoration and length of hospital stay
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 .