The Need for Serial Administration of Vitamin C in Treatment for the Burn Patients.
- Author:
Yun Soo CHO
1
;
Cheong Hoon SEO
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea. chseomd@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Burn;
Vitamin C
- MeSH:
Antioxidants;
Ascorbic Acid;
Burn Units;
Burns;
Collagen;
Free Radicals;
Heart;
Histamine;
Humans;
Mass Screening;
Melanins;
Oxidative Stress;
Oxygen;
Plasma;
Reference Values;
Vitamin B 12;
Vitamin B 6;
Vitamins
- From:Journal of Korean Burn Society
2013;16(1):46-49
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Burn is one of the oxidative stress generating of oxygen free radicals. It was reported that a vitamin C played an important role in the antioxidant defense mechanism by acting as antioxidants, scavenging oxygen free radicals, collagen synthesis, detoxification of histamine and inhibition of melanin synthesis. Nevertheless there is still no study on the plasma level or the effect of a vitamin C after initial management in major burn patients. Therefore we investigated the need for continuous administration of vitamin C in treatment for the burn patients. METHODS: From March 2013 to May 2013, total 36 patients admitted to the department of rehabilitation medicine of Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital Burn Center were routinely tested for the plasma level of vitamin C as a part of their nutritional screening. We also tested the plasma level of vitamin B6 and B12 with it as the control test. We compared the plasma level of vitamin C with the time between test and burn injury, and with total burn surface area. RESULTS: Of the 36 patients, 34 patients had lower plasma vitamin C level than the normal range. However there were no significant differences depending on the total surface area burned or the time between test and burn injury in their plasma vitamin C level. All patients had normal plasma vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 level. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that the continuous administration of vitamin C should be done after thermal injury.
