Ascorbic acid concentrations in aqueous humor after systemic vitamin C supplementation in patients with cataract: pilot study

Abstract

BackgroundTo measure ascorbic acid concentration in aqueous humor of patients with cataract after oral or intravenous vitamin C supplementation.MethodsForty-two eyes of 42 patients with senile cataract who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery were enrolled. Patients (n = 14 each) were administered oral vitamin C (2 g), intravenous vitamin C (20 g) or no treatment (control group) on the day before surgery. Samples of aqueous humor (0.1 cm3) were obtained by anterior chamber aspiration at the beginning of surgery and stored at −80 °C. Ascorbic acid concentration in aqueous humor was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography.ResultsThe mean age at surgery was 62.5 years, with no difference among the three groups. The mean ± standard deviation concentrations of ascorbic acid in aqueous humor in the control and oral and intravenous vitamin C groups were 1347 ± 331 μmol/L, 1859 ± 408 μmol/L and 2387 ± 445 μmol/L, respectively. Ascorbic acid concentration was significantly lower in the control than in the oral (P < 0.01) and intravenous (P < 0.001) vitamin C groups and was significantly higher in the intravenous than in the oral vitamin C group (P < 0.05).ConclusionsAscorbic acid concentration in aqueous humor is increased by systemic vitamin C supplementation, with intravenous administration being more effective than oral administration.

Quercetin and Vitamin C: An Experimental, Synergistic Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Related Disease (COVID-19)

“…5 g/day twice/week) in patients with herpes zoster exhibited a lower incidence of postherpetic neuralgia (31.1% vs. 57.1%) and at study end (week 16) there was a lower pain score in the treatment group (0.64+/−0.9 vs. 1.98 +/−0.7) (59). Vitamin C administered at 1 g BID to 133 patients, reduced the risk (OR 0.25) of herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) recurrence (60), in accordance with previous studies indicating reduced ascorbate availability in the eye (61). It is noteworthy that a growing number of case reports of virusrelated acute respiratory distress syndromes (ARDS) indicate successful treatment with intravenous high doses of Vitamin C (62,63).…”

Clinical Features of Herpes Simplex Keratitis in a Korean Tertiary Referral Center: Efficacy of Oral Antiviral and Ascorbic Acid on Recurrence

“…Supporting our finding is that some forms of ascorbic acid have antiviral properties: 2-O-glycoside of ascorbic acid displays marked antiviral properties against HSV-1, influenza, and poliovirus [ 19 ], while dehydro-ascorbic acid may affect HSV-1 multiplication after completion of viral DNA replication at the maturation stage [ 20 ]. Our previous study showed that the ascorbic acid concentration in the aqueous humor is increased by systemic ascorbic acid supplementation, and this increased ascorbic acid may have affected the recurrence of herpetic keratitis [ 21 ]. Such antiviral properties may explain why oral ascorbic acid treatment was found in the present study to associate with lower HSK recurrence rates.…”

Effect of dietary modification and antioxidant supplementation on intraocular pressure and open-angle glaucoma

“…[143][144][145] To increase the ascorbic acid concentration in aqueous humor, an intravenous vitamin C administration was found to be more effective than oral vitamin C administration. 146 In addition, epidemiological studies have also shown beneficial effects of antioxidants and micronutrients on controlling IOP and decreasing RGC loss. Specifically, the Nurses' Health Study (NHS, all female registered nurses), the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HFPS, all male health professionals), 110 the Rotterdam study in the Netherlands, 111 the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 112 and the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V 113 examined the potential association between the dietary intake of antioxidants and POAG.…”