Interview with Professor Lankadeva about sodium ascorbate (formula of vitamin C) to treat sepsis

Professor Yugeesh Lankadeva (Florey Institute, Melbourne) led the team that conducted research on the use of a megadose of the sodium salt of vitamin C to treat sepsis. Idelette Nutma (https://www.sepsis-en-daarna.nl/en/) talks to him about this important development because it looks promising in reducing the burden of sepsis, also regarding the long term effects. This interview was organized in collaboration with the CMSM (https://www.cmsm.nl/en/) Prof. Lankadeva is lead investigator of the MEGASCORES research program that aims to advance megadose sodium ascorbate to multicentre Phase IB en Phase II clinical trials across Australia over the next 4 years. The results of this research were published in Critical Care Medicine in February 2021, in October 2023 in Critical Care (BMC) and in August 2024 in British Journal of Aneasthesia. -- Time Codes -- 02:30 - How did professor Lankadeva become interested in sepsis? 04:54 - The long term effects of sepsis matter too 06:05 - How did professor Lankadeve become interested in vitamin C? 06:42 - Sepsis isn't a disease, it's a pathophysiological syndrome 07:52 - Vitamin C has multi model actions 08:23 - The rationale for suppletion 09:03 - Every clinical trial to date has used vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid 15:15 - About the pilot trial 17:05 - Elevated sodium levels are to be monitored closely 18:42 - How come many trials didn't show benefit of vitamin C (ascorbic acid)? 22:03 - Lankadeva and his team are carefully weaning patients of the ascorbate (not stopping abruptly) 22:19 - Working together closely with nurses 23:05 - About the article in the British Journal of Aneasthesia in 2024: brain function improved 25:37 - Other critically ill patients might benefit from ascorbate as well 25:57 - The MEGASCORES trial 26:58 - What does Professor Lankadeva hope to achieve by his research? 28:05 - The added value for Low and Middle income Countries as well 28:24 - Can ascorbate change the treatment of sepsis, also in the early phase? 31:36 - Could ascorbate also contribute to recovery after the acute phase? 33:45 - About patient values and patient and family support 35:12 - What's the message of prof. Lankadeva to future patients and relatives? 36:13 - The importance of 'mechanism guided clinical trials' 36:36 - There's reason for hope. The research team is moving forward cautiously 37:16 - How can the voice and perspective of patients add to these promising developments? 40:02 - The interaction with patients and families can really help move things forward; it's inspiring for researchers and doctors to experience that the community cares