Most vertebrates can synthesize vitamin C with synthesis increasing during stress. Humans, however, have lost the ability to synthesize vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important anti-oxidant and an enzyme cofactor for many important biological reactions. Sepsis results in the overwhelming production of reactive oxygen species with widespread endothelial, cellular and mitochondrial injury leading to progressive organ failure. Sepsis is associated with an acute deficiency of vitamin C. In experimental sepsis models, intravenous vitamin C reduces organ injury and improves survival. In addition, emerging evidence suggests that the combination of vitamin C, corticosteroids and thiamine may act synergistically to reverse sepsis induced organ dysfunction. These findings are supported by a recent observational study. Randomized controlled trials are underway to investigate this novel approach to the treatment of sepsis.

大多数脊椎动物可以合成维生素C，并且在压力下合成会增加。然而，人类已经失去了合成维生素C的能力。维生素C是重要的抗氧化剂和许多重要生物反应的酶辅因子。败血症导致大量产生的内皮，细胞和线粒体损伤而导致活性氧的大量产生，从而导致进行性器官衰竭。脓毒症与维生素C的严重缺乏有关。在实验性脓毒症模型中，静脉注射维生素C可减少器官损伤并提高生存率。此外，越来越多的证据表明，维生素C，皮质类固醇和硫胺素的组合可能具有协同作用，可逆转败血症引起的器官功能障碍。这些发现得到了最近的一项观察性研究的支持。