Main text
We have read with interest the manuscript from Honore et al. in Annals of Intensive Care about the dose adjustments of vitamin C in critically patients undergoing renal replacement therapy [1]. After a detailed review, we would like to highlight an inaccurate literature review performed in this study that may raise uncertainty in the conclusions of Honore and colleagues.
The authors included in their study the Wu et al.’s case report of a patient with hemolytic jaundice induced by pharmacological dose of ascorbic acid in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency [2]. This manuscript is used in Honore et al. narrative review discussion to support an important conclusion related to the dose of up to 6 g/day (vitamin C) is not contraindicated in patients with G6PD deficiency [2]. However, the study from Wu et al. was retracted from Medicine (Baltimore) journal in 2019 (online: 2019 November 27) [3], because the accuracy or validity of the results is questionable and does not support the hypothesis, making the Wu et al.’s manuscript factually incorrect and inadequate to support Honore et al.’s previous conclusion.
The authors searched for studies and used studies published in 2020, like Fujii et al.’s study [4], so the retraction note, published online in 2019 November [3], should be observed.
We conclude that the exclusion of Wu et al.’s study does not probably affect the overall conclusions of Honore et al.’s study, but it affects directly the particular conclusion exposed previously because Wu et al.’s study failed to provide valid scientific evidence.
We recommend to exclude it, but a good and accurate literature review is a key element in high-quality original studies.
Acknowledgements
Not applicable.
Abbreviation
- G6PD
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
Authors’ contributions
JMM and IHP has equally contributed in study’s conceptualization, methodology, analysis and writing. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Funding
This research received no external funding.
Availability of data and materials
Not applicable.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interest or any conflict of interest.
Footnotes
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
References
- 1.Honore PM, Spapen HD, Marik P, Boer W, Oudemans-van Straaten H. Dosing vitamin C in critically ill patients with special attention to renal replacement therapy: a narrative review. Ann Intensive Care. 2020;10:23. doi: 10.1186/s13613-020-0640-6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Wu S, Wu G, Wu H. Hemolytic jaundice induced by pharmacological dose ascorbic acid in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: a case report. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(51):e13588. doi: 10.1097/md.0000000000013588. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] [Retracted]
- 3.Wu S, Wu G, Wu H. Hemolytic jaundice induced by pharmacological dose ascorbic acid in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: a case report: retraction. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(48):e18261. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000018261. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4.Fujii T, Luethi N, Young PJ, Frei DR, Eastwood GM, French CJ, et al. Effect of vitamin C, hydrocortisone, and thiamine vs hydrocortisone alone on time alive and free of vasopressor support among patients with septic shock: the vitamins randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2020 doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.22176. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Data Availability Statement
Not applicable.