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 .
Efficacy of Combination Therapy of Statin and Vitamin C in Comparison with Statin in the Prevention of Post-CABG Atrial Fibrillation.
PURPOSE Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) is the most frequent arrhythmia that follows coronary artery bypass graft ( CABG ) . Patients developing postoperative AF ( POAF ) have significantly higher mortality rates . The consistent prophylactic effectiveness of statins and vitamin C are well-accepted ; however , no evaluation on combined therapy has been performed . We aim ed at assessing the efficacy of combination therapy with statin and vitamin C in comparison with statin alone in the prevention of post CABG-AF . METHODS In a r and omized double blind clinical trial , 120 c and i date s of CABG were recruited in Tabriz Madani Educational Center in a 15-month period of time . Patients were r and omized into two groups of 60 receiving oral atorvastatin ( 40 mg ) plus oral vitamin C ( 2g/d operation day and 1g/d for five consequent days ) for intervention group and oral atorvastatin ( 40 mg ) for control group . Occurrence of post CABG AF was compared between the two groups . RESULTS There were 60 patients , 43 males and 17 females with a mean age of 61.0±11.5 ( 29 - 78 ) years , in the intervention group and sixty patients , 39 males and 21 females with a mean age of 60.5±11.3 ( 39 - 81 ) years , in the control group .  The post CABG AF occurred in 6 cases ( 10 % ) in the interventional group and 15 patients ( 25 % ) in the controls ( P=0.03 , odds ratio=0.33 , 95 % confidence interval 0.12 - 0.93 ) . CONCLUSION Based on our findings , combination prophylaxis against post CABG AF with oral atorvastatin plus vitamin C is significantly more effective than single oral atorvastatin
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 .