Interest of Ascorbic Acid in the Management of Pneumonia in Elderly People Hospitalized.
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-05-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Pneumonia is the second common infection and its risk increases for elderly. In this
population, it is the first cause of mortality by infections, and source of many
complications. Geriatric studies had shown the high prevalence of ascorbic acid 's
deficiency, especially in older hospitalized people. It is well known that vitamin C is one
of the key of the immune system, it has a scavenger's role in case of aggression like sepsis.
A Cochrane database published in 2013 analyzed the impact of vitamin C for preventing and
treating pneumonia. Two randomized studies showed a benefit on respiratory symptoms for
patients treated by vitamin C, and for one of those studies it was noted a significant
reduction of mortality. The main objective of our study is first to determine the impact on
respiratory symptoms of an adjuvant treatment by vitamin C for the management of pneumonia in
older people hospitalized, and then evaluate its impact on functional status.