The Potential Use of Vitamin C to Prevent Kidney Injury in Patients with COVID-19

• Main Authors: Feng Xu, Yawei Wen, Xinge Hu, Tiannan Wang, Guoxun Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Diseases
• Subjects: COVID-19; vitamin C; acute kidney injury; oxidative stress; inflammatory cytokine storm
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/9/3/46

The newly found SARS-CoV-2 has led to the pandemic of COVID-19, which has caused respiratory distress syndrome and even death worldwide. This has become a global public health crisis. Unfortunately, elders and subjects with comorbidities have high mortality rates. One main feature of COVID-19 is the cytokine storm, which can cause damage in cells and tissues including the kidneys. Here, we reviewed the current literature on renal impairments in patients with COVID-19 and analyzed the possible etiology and mechanisms. In addition, we investigated the potential use of vitamin C for the prevention of renal injury in those patients. It appears that vitamin C could be helpful to improve the outcomes of patients with COVID-19. Lastly, we discussed the possible protective effects of vitamin C on renal functions in COVID-19 patients with existing kidney conditions.