TY - JOUR
T1 - No Effect of Vitamin C Administration on Neutrophil Recovery in Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Myeloma or Lymphoma
T2 - A Blinded, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
AU - van Gorkom, Gwendolyn N Y
AU - Boerenkamp, Lara S
AU - Gijsbers, Birgit L M G
AU - van Ojik, Heidi H
AU - Wodzig, Will K W H
AU - Wieten, Lotte
AU - Van Elssen, Catharina H M J
AU - Bos, Gerard M J
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded by Kankeronderzoekfonds Limburg (Health Foundation Limburg).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors.
PY - 2022/11/11
Y1 - 2022/11/11
N2 - Vitamin C is an important micronutrient for various immune cells. It increases phagocytic cell function and is necessary for T and natural killer (NK) cell development. Patients in need of an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are often vitamin C-depleted. We therefore hypothesized that vitamin C supplementation could improve immune recovery in autologous HSCT patients. This blinded, placebo-controlled trial included 44 patients randomized to receive vitamin C or a placebo. The following outcome measures used were clinical and immunological parameters, among others: time to neutrophil recovery, serum, and intracellular vitamin C values. Twenty-one patients received vitamin C, and 23 received a placebo. The time to neutrophil recovery did not differ between the two groups at 11.2 days (
p = 0.96). There were no differences in hospitalization time (19.7 vs. 19.1 days,
p = 0.80), the incidence of neutropenic fever (57% vs. 78%,
p = 0.20), or 3-month overall survival (90.5% vs. 100%,
p = 0.13). Bacteremia seemed to occur less in the vitamin C group (10% vs. 35%,
p = 0.07). Our study shows no benefit from vitamin C supplementation on neutrophil recovery and hospitalization, despite possible lower rates of bacteremia in the vitamin C group. Therefore, we do not advise vitamin C supplementation in this treatment group.
AB - Vitamin C is an important micronutrient for various immune cells. It increases phagocytic cell function and is necessary for T and natural killer (NK) cell development. Patients in need of an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are often vitamin C-depleted. We therefore hypothesized that vitamin C supplementation could improve immune recovery in autologous HSCT patients. This blinded, placebo-controlled trial included 44 patients randomized to receive vitamin C or a placebo. The following outcome measures used were clinical and immunological parameters, among others: time to neutrophil recovery, serum, and intracellular vitamin C values. Twenty-one patients received vitamin C, and 23 received a placebo. The time to neutrophil recovery did not differ between the two groups at 11.2 days (
p = 0.96). There were no differences in hospitalization time (19.7 vs. 19.1 days,
p = 0.80), the incidence of neutropenic fever (57% vs. 78%,
p = 0.20), or 3-month overall survival (90.5% vs. 100%,
p = 0.13). Bacteremia seemed to occur less in the vitamin C group (10% vs. 35%,
p = 0.07). Our study shows no benefit from vitamin C supplementation on neutrophil recovery and hospitalization, despite possible lower rates of bacteremia in the vitamin C group. Therefore, we do not advise vitamin C supplementation in this treatment group.
U2 - 10.3390/nu14224784
DO - 10.3390/nu14224784
M3 - Article
C2 - 36432471
SN - 2072-6643
VL - 14
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
IS - 22
M1 - 4784
ER -