Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

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VITAMIN C REGULATING HOST-MICROBE HOMEOSTASIS IN THE GUT OF PATIENTS WITH SEPSIS

QIUQI GAO 1#, WEIWEI WANG 1#, YANGYANG ZHUANG 1#, YINGRU LU 1#, YINGJIE PAN 1, KAICHENG WANG 2, QIN WEI 1, JINGYE PAN 1,2,3,4*

1Department of Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China
2 Key Laboratory of Intelligent Treatment and Life Support for Critical Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China
3 Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Critical Care and Artificial Intelligence, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China
4 Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Hospital Emergency and Process Digitization, Wenzhou, 325015, Zhejiang, China

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This study examined the regulatory effects of vitamin C (VitC) on intestinal microbial homeostasis in patients with sepsis complicated by gastrointestinal perforation (GIP). Ninety-six septic GIP patients were divided into two groups: the VitC group (VCG) (GIP repair + conventional sepsis treatment + VitC) and the non-VitC group (nVCG) (GIP repair + conventional sepsis treatment). A control group (Ctrl) of 96 non-septic GIP patients was also included. Faecal samples were analysed using 16S rRNA sequencing to assess bacterial community structure, alpha and beta diversity, and relative abundance (RA). Clinical parameters, including inflammatory markers, organ function, and coagulation indices, were evaluated before and after treatment. The RA of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes was higher, while Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were lower in the VCG compared to nVCG (p < 0.05). Chao1 and Faith pd indices indicated improved microbial diversity in the VCG. After treatment, the VCG showed distinct enrichment of beneficial gut flora, while nVCG exhibited an overgrowth of Pseudomonas species. VitC also improved clinical outcomes, reducing TBIL, ALK-P and urea levels, while increasing PLT and lowering Cr. In conclusion, VitC enhances gut microbial diversity, restores intestinal homeostasis, and ameliorates clinical symptoms of sepsis in GIP patients.