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High-dose Oral Vitamin C Supplementation and Acute Pain Control Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Study.

  • 2026-04
  • Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses 41(2)
    • Yoonyoung Choi
    • Tae Ho Hong

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 320
Population
Patients who underwent elective LC
Methods
Randomized Controlled Trial; patients randomly assigned to vitamin C or placebo groups; 320 patients (vitamin C: 159, placebo: 161); vitamin C group took three 1 g tablets, four times each, both before and after surgery
Duration
2 days postoperatively
Funding
Unclear
  • Large Human Trial

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vitamin C supplementation on acute postoperative pain.

Design

Randomized Controlled Trial.

Methods

Patients who underwent elective LC were randomly assigned to either vitamin C or placebo groups. A total of 320 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to the vitamin C (159 patients) and placebo (161 patients) groups. The vitamin C group took three 1 g tablets, four times each, both before and after surgery. Numeral rating scale (NRS) scores were assessed 6 h, 1 d, and 2 days postoperatively. The amount of pethidine consumed was also compared on the day of the operation, on postoperative day 1, and on postoperative day 2. Additional clinical profiles were obtained on admission.

Findings

NRS scores and amount of pethidine consumption at each time point (operation day, postoperative day 1, and postoperative day 2) were not significantly different between the two groups. Furthermore, the white blood cell count, length of hospital stay, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative complications were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusions

This study showed that high-dose oral vitamin C was ineffective for pain reduction after LC.

Research Insights

  • Vitamin C→Reduced Acute Pain

    NRS scores and amount of pethidine consumption at each time point (operation day, postoperative day 1, and postoperative day 2) were not significantly different between the two groups.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    three 1 g tablets, four times each, both before and after surgery
  • Vitamin C→Reduced Length of Hospital Stay

    the white blood cell count, length of hospital stay, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative complications were not significantly different between the two groups.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    three 1 g tablets, four times each, both before and after surgery
  • Vitamin C→Reduced Postoperative Complications

    the white blood cell count, length of hospital stay, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative complications were not significantly different between the two groups.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    three 1 g tablets, four times each, both before and after surgery
  • Vitamin C→Reduced Vomiting Frequency

    the white blood cell count, length of hospital stay, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative complications were not significantly different between the two groups.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    three 1 g tablets, four times each, both before and after surgery
  • Vitamin C→Reduced White Blood Cell Count

    the white blood cell count, length of hospital stay, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative complications were not significantly different between the two groups.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    three 1 g tablets, four times each, both before and after surgery
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