The effects of Vitamin C on Inflammatory Markers and Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in Bushehr Heart Center: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass pump may cause systemic inflammatory reactions by releasing cytokines which leads to multiple organ failure. Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The study aimed to determine the effect of vitamin C on inflammatory markers and atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing CABG.

In the present single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, 80 patients were divided to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received vitamin C 2 g IV, and the control group received the same amount (equivalent to 4×5 cc shots) of normal saline IV 10 minutes after induction of anesthesia. Arterial blood samples were taken at specified intervals to assess IL-6 and hsCRP levels. The data were analyzed in SPSS-24.

The changes in IL-6 values at the specific intervals were not statistically significant (P> 0.05). Significant differences were observed in hsCRP levels only 24 hours after CABG. The incidence of atrial fibrillation was not significantly different between the two groups after the intervention.

This study showed that ascorbic acid has no effect on reducing IL6 and hsCRP levels in patients undergoing CABG, and similarly, does not cause a reduction in post-CABG atrial fibrillation.