High-Dose Antioxidants Improve Trauma Outcomes 10-17-08

Infections and abdominal wall complications were markedly reduced in trauma patients treated with high doses of vitamins C, E, and selenium, researchers said here.

Rates of abdominal compartment syndrome, pulmonary failure, and surgical site infections were significantly reduced when trauma center patients received a one-week course of the antioxidants beginning at admission, reported Bryan A. Cotton, M.D., of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and colleagues.

Their study, presented at the American College of Surgeons' Clinical Congress, was a retrospective review comparing results for 2,272 patients admitted to the Vanderbilt trauma center from October 2005 through September 2006, when the antioxidant treatment was given routinely to incoming patients, with results for 2,022 patients admitted the previous year, when no antioxidants were given.

The antioxidant regimen consisted of 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 1,000 IU of alpha-tocopherol three times a day and 200 mcg/day of intravenous selenium.

The treatment was not given to pregnant patients or those with serum creatinine higher than 2.5 mg/dL.

Rates of complications in the treatment group versus controls included:

* Abdominal compartment syndrome: 0.7% versus 2.9%, P<0.001
* Respiratory failure: 17.4% versus 27.6%, P<0.001
* Overall infections: 12.3% versus 15.0%, P=0.014
* Surgical site infection: 1.3% versus 2.7%, P=0.002

The researchers calculated an odds ratio of 0.62 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.74) for respiratory failure after the antioxidant protocol was instituted compared with the earlier period.

For abdominal wall complications, the odds ratio with antioxidant treatment was 0.47 (95% CI 0.33 to 0.67).

There were no significant differences for other complications, including ventilator-associated pneumonia, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, septic shock, renal failure, wound dehiscence, or sacral decubiti.

Patient demographics and injury severity were similar in the two periods, the researchers found. About 15% to 20% of the Vanderbilt trauma center's caseload involves penetrating wounds.

Dr. Cotton and colleagues had previously reported mortality data from the same study, in which death rates were reduced significantly to 6.1% from 8.5% before the protocol was implemented (P=0.001).

It also appears that the sickest patients get the greatest benefit from the treatment, Dr. Cotton added. Those with less serious illness no longer receive the antioxidants at Vanderbilt.

The researchers now have studies of dosing and duration of treatment underway to determine if outcomes can be improved further.

Dr. Cotton noted that the current week-long treatment costs $11 per patient.

Comment:

This is just further proof of the power of antioxidants in preventing and healing of trauma illnesses.

You can easily take up to 10,000 mg of vitamin c daily. Once you get diarrhea you have reached your daily peak amount. Make sure your vitamin e is of the d-alpha form not dl-alpha, which is manufactured at Kodak Labs.

Check out Vibrant Health Super Powerful Food Based Antioxidants

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