A groundbreaking clinical trial conducted at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne has introduced a new ray of hope for the often-fatal diagnosis of sepsis.
Sepsis “is the biggest killer in intensive care units in Australia and worldwide,” explains Professor Rinaldo Bellomo, Director of Intensive Care Research at Austin Hospital (via EurekAlert!). After decades of research, the exact cause of sepsis remains unknown. The extreme immune response in sepsis can lead to significant complications, including blood vessel leakage, low blood pressure, clotting, and blockages. “It often develops so quickly that patients are already critically ill by the time they reach us. A treatment that acts quickly, is safe and highly effective would be an absolute game-changer.”
Previous research indicated that intravenous but not oral supplements of ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Ascorbic acid treatments are thought to effectively mitigate the proinflammatory response and improve the function of organ tissue barriers in patients with sepsis. However, the clinical results of adjunctive ascorbic acid are mired by complications such as acidosis.
Florey scientists made a special formulation of sodium ascorbate to treat sepsis. Supplied by The Florey
Enter on the scene sodium ascorbate. This sodium form of ascorbic acid possesses a physiological pH of 7.4 compared to ascorbic acid’s 5.5. In results recently published in the Critical Care journal, researchers explored how a small tweak enhanced the potential of vitamin C to combat sepsis.
L-R Florey Professor Clive May, Austin Health intensive care specialist Professor Rinaldo Bellomo and Florey Associate Professor Yugeesh Lankadeva have found sodium ascorbate can be used to treat sepsis. Supplied by The Florey
The trial involved administering mega-doses of sodium ascorbate intravenously to adult sepsis patients. These concentrations were more than 30 times higher than those administered in the lackluster ascorbic acid studies. The new trial’s results were indeed promising, showcasing improved urine production, reduced dependency on clinical drug treatments, and a lower Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score among treated patients.
With a generous grant of $4.9 million from the Australian Government, the research is poised to advance to the next phase. This next step will encompass administering the treatment to up to 300 septic patients across multiple intensive care units in five additional cities.
The mortality rate for sepsis remains alarmingly high at approximately 30% worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for effective treatments. Widespread application of the new sodium ascorbate treatment could save lives and alleviate the severe impacts of sepsis, which include organ dysfunction, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, or amputation.
Sources: CDC, Sepsis Alliance, American Journal of Physiology, Critical Care, Antibiotic Research UK, EurekAlert!
