High-Dose Vitamin C Could Pose Risk in Severe Burns

“High-dose intravenous vitamin C administered early after injury did not reduce organ dysfunction or [mortality] and should not be a treatment in severe burns.”

By
Kathryn Wighton
June 12, 2026
3 min

MDSpire News

Overview

The VICTORY trial found that high-dose intravenous vitamin C did not reduce mortality or persistent organ dysfunction in patients with severe burn injuries. The trial was terminated early due to findings suggesting potential harm associated with vitamin C treatment.

Background

Severe burn injuries can lead to significant morbidity and mortality, necessitating effective treatment strategies. High-dose vitamin C has been proposed as a potential therapy, but prior studies have yielded inconsistent results. The VICTORY trial aimed to provide definitive evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of high-dose vitamin C in this patient population.

Data Highlights

Outcome	Vitamin C Group	Placebo Group
28-day mortality	15%	8%
Hospital mortality	23%	16%
ICU mortality	23%	15%
6-month mortality	26%	20%
Cumulative incidence of discharge alive by 90 days	66%	71%

Key Findings

High-dose vitamin C did not reduce the primary composite outcome of 28-day mortality or persistent organ dysfunction.
The trial was terminated early after crossing a futility/harm threshold.
28-day mortality was higher in the vitamin C group (15%) compared to placebo (8%).
Kidney replacement therapy was initiated in 11% of patients receiving vitamin C versus 6% in the placebo group.
No benefit was observed in any prespecified subgroup analysis.
Previous studies suggesting benefits were generally small and underpowered for significant outcomes.

Clinical Implications

The findings from the VICTORY trial indicate that high-dose intravenous vitamin C should not be used as a treatment for severe burn injuries due to lack of efficacy and potential harm.