ascorbic acid + acetylcysteine

ascorbic acid + acetylcysteine is an antioxidant combination therapy evaluated in the VIXIE (VitamIn and oXygen Interventions and cardiovascular Events) trial. Developed by investigators at University Hospital Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, the treatment consists of a 3 g intravenous bolus of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and a 100 mg/kg infusion of N-acetylcysteine. The combination is designed to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduce oxidative stress, which are believed to contribute to myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS). Despite the theoretical benefits of reducing surgical stress-induced oxidative damage, results from the multicenter, blinded, 2x2 factorial trial published in 2022 demonstrated that the intervention did not significantly reduce myocardial injury within the first three days post-surgery compared to placebo.

Other names

Vitamin C + N-acetylcysteineAntioxidants (VIXIE trial)