Research

Influence of early antioxidant supplements on clinical evolution and organ function in critically ill cardiac surgery, major trauma, and subarachnoid hemorrhage patients

Mette M Berger¹ , Ludivine Soguel¹ , Alan Shenkin² , Jean-Pierre Revelly¹ , Christophe Pinget³ , Malcolm Baines² and René L Chioléro¹

¹Department of Intensive Care Medicine & Burns Centre, University Hospital (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland

²Department of Clinical Chemistry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital and University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

³Health Technology Assessment Unit, CHUV, Rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2008, 12:R101doi:10.1186/cc6981

Published:	7 August 2008

Abstract

Introduction

Oxidative stress is involved in the development of secondary tissue damage and organ failure. Micronutrients contributing to the antioxidant (AOX) defense exhibit low plasma levels during critical illness. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of early AOX micronutrients on clinical outcome in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with conditions characterized by oxidative stress.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial in patients admitted to a university hospital ICU with organ failure after complicated cardiac surgery, major trauma, or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stratification by diagnosis was performed before randomization. The intervention was intravenous supplements for 5 days (selenium 270 μg, zinc 30 mg, vitamin C 1.1 g, and vitamin B₁ 100 mg) with a double-loading dose on days 1 and 2 or placebo.

Results

Two hundred patients were included (102 AOX and 98 placebo). While age and gender did not differ, brain injury was more severe in the AOX trauma group (P = 0.019). Organ function endpoints did not differ: incidence of acute kidney failure and sequential organ failure assessment score decrease were similar (-3.2 ± 3.2 versus -4.2 ± 2.3 over the course of 5 days). Plasma concentrations of selenium, zinc, and glutathione peroxidase, low on admission, increased significantly to within normal values in the AOX group. C-reactive protein decreased faster in the AOX group (P = 0.039). Infectious complications did not differ. Length of hospital stay did not differ (16.5 versus 20 days), being shorter only in surviving AOX trauma patients (-10 days; P = 0.045).

Conclusion

The AOX intervention did not reduce early organ dysfunction but significantly reduced the inflammatory response in cardiac surgery and trauma patients, which may prove beneficial in conditions with an intense inflammation.

Trials Registration

Clinical Trials.gov RCT Register: NCT00515736.