The Association between Vitamin C Prescription and Serum Oxalate Among Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Background and Objective: Vitamin C consumption is necessary to compensate for its deficiency in hemodialysis patients, but excessive use raises concerns about increased levels of serum oxalate and oxalosis. This study was performed to compare the influence of intravenous and oral Vitamin C consumption on serum oxalate among hemodialysis patients in the 5 th Azar Hospital in Golestan (north of Iran). Materials and Methods: In the randomized controlled trial, 75 hemodialysis patients were selected via convenience methods. They were randomly allocated into controls ( n = 25), oral Vitamin C (OAA) ( n = 25) and intravenous Vitamin C (IAA) groups ( n = 25). After the dialysis session (three times weekly), patients took 300 mg intravenous Vitamin C in the IAA group and orally 500 mg Vitamin C in the OAA group for 8 weeks. Serum oxalate was examined before and after therapy. SPSS 16.0 software was used for the statistical analysis. Chi-square and ANOVA were used for comparing groups. A P -value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: There was no significant difference among the three groups based on mean of serum oxalate before and after intervention. After intervention, the mean value of serum oxalate was not significantly increased in the IAA and OAA groups compared with the control group. A mean difference of serum oxalate before and after IAA was not statistically significant. The mean of serum oxalate before and after intervention significantly increased in the two intervention groups ( P Conclusion: In the hemodialysis patients, the procedure of Vitamin C supplementation was associated with the serum oxalate level. Serum oxalate level unchanged in the injected method but it is significantly increased in daily oral Vitamin C supplementation.