Ascorbic acid and erythropoietin

Abstract

I read a recent publication by Philipneri and colleagues with great interest.1. The authors reached the conclusion that “the role of ascorbic acid in reducing the erythropoietin requirement appears promising.”1. Indeed, the use of ascorbic acid in patients requiring hemodialysis is mentioned in another study.2. Biesalski said that “parenteral administration of ascorbic acid may be an approach that can overcome problems of vitamin C deficiency in hemodialysis patients.”2. However, the correlation of vitamin C and hemodialysis is not mentioned in this work.2. In a recent meta-analysis by Deved and colleagues, it was reported that, “compared with standard care, ascorbic acid use may result in an increase in hemoglobin concentration and transferrin saturation and decrease in rHuEPO requirements.”3. However, the problems of the small number of study participants and the short follow-up time were also noted.3. To reach the finalized conclusion that ascorbic acid helps decrease the requirement of erythropoietin in hemodialysis, there is a need to verify the direct physiological correlation between vitamin C and erythropoietin.