Effect of Vitamin C on Pain Reduction After an Emergency Department Visit

NCT06306183 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: 2024-2829
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 204
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 4

Brief Summary

Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries such as sprains, strains, bruises, and fractures are among the most common reasons people visit the emergency department. These injuries often cause significant pain in the first few days, making it difficult to move, work, or sleep. Usual pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help, but they are not safe or effective for everyone. Some people cannot take them because of heart, kidney, stomach, or liver problems. Others still experience strong pain despite treatment. Because of these limits, some patients receive opioids, which can cause side effects and carry a risk of dependence. Safer and more accessible options are needed. Vitamin C is widely known for supporting the immune system, but research suggests it may also help reduce pain and inflammation. Studies in surgical patients have shown that vitamin C can lower pain levels, reduce the need for opioids, and support healing. These effects may be linked to its antioxidant properties and its role in tissue repair. However, no study has tested whether vitamin C can help people with recent MSK injuries treated in the emergency department. The VICAMED study aims to answer this question. Adults arriving with an MSK injury that occurred within the past 48 hours can participate if they have at least moderate pain. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either vitamin C or a placebo. The first dose is given in the emergency department, followed by twice daily capsules for three days. Pain is measured using a simple 0-100 scale, recorded in an electronic or paper diary. A follow-up on day six helps the research team understand each participant's recovery, medication use, and overall experience. Vitamin C is inexpensive, widely available, and very safe at the doses used in this study. If it proves effective, it could offer a simple, low risk option to help patients manage pain after an MSK injury and reduce the need for opioids in emergency care.

Conditions

Pain, Acute

Keywords

Vitamin C; NSAID; Emergency department; Pain; RCT

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Time-weighted sum of the pain-intensity difference (SPID)

  The primary outcome is the time-weighted sum of the pain-intensity difference (SPID) over the three-day treatment period on a 0-100 visual analog scale (VAS), where 0 is no pain and 100 the worst pain imaginable. The SPID accounts for both the magnitude of the pain change and its duration, producing a single value that reflects the patient's overall experience.

  Three days

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Difference in pain intensity

  Three days

• Consumption of as-needed pain medication

  Three days

• Time for significant pain relief

  Six days

• Time to pain-free

  Six days

• Percentage of days with adequate relief

  Six days

Study Arms (2)

Vitamin C

EXPERIMENTAL

900 mg vitamin C taken orally twice a day

Dietary Supplement: Vitamin C

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Placebo taken orally twice a day

Other: Placebo

Interventions

Vitamin C DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

900 mg vitamin C taken orally twice a day (one in the morning and one in the evening) for a 3-day period after ED discharge for the treatment arm.

Vitamin C

Placebo OTHER

Placebo taken orally twice a day (one in the morning and one in the evening) for a 3-day period after ED discharge for the treatment arm.

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: Gender is self identified by participants.
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age ≥ 18 years old
• Presenting to the ED with acute MSK pain of ≤ 48 hours duration at triage
• Verbal numerical rating scale pain intensity at triage of ≥ 4 on a 0-10 scale
• Triaged to the ambulatory section of the ED
• Able to communicate in French or English

You may not qualify if:

• Usage of Vit C supplements in the last week
• Active cancer
• Treated with opioids for any pain within 24 hours prior to recruitment
• Treatment for chronic pain
• Unable to fill out a pain intensity diary or unavailable for follow-up
• Allergy to milk (lactose in the placebo) or Vit C
• Treated with cyclosporine or warfarin
• Pre-existing oxalate nephropathy, liver cirrhosis or hemochromatosis
• Hospitalized after clinician evaluation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hopital de l'Enfant-Jesus: collaborator
• The Ottawa Hospital: collaborator
• Centre Integre Universitaire de Sante et Services Sociaux du Nord de l'ile de Montreal: lead

Study Sites (4)

The Ottawa Hospital - General and Civic Campus

Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 1J8, Canada

NOT YET RECRUITING

Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis

Lévis, Quebec, G6V 3Z1, Canada

NOT YET RECRUITING

Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal

Montreal, Quebec, H4J 1C5, Canada

RECRUITING

CHU de Québec - Université Laval

Québec, Quebec, Canada

NOT YET RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Acute Pain; Emergencies; Pain

Interventions

Ascorbic Acid

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sugar Acids; Acids, Acyclic; Carboxylic Acids; Organic Chemicals; Hydroxy Acids; Carbohydrates

Study Officials

• Raoul Daoust, MD MSc

  Université de Montréal

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Martin Marquis, MSc

CONTACT

514-338-2222; martin.marquis.cnmtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr Emergency Medicine, Professor, Clinician Researcher

Model Details: Triple-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 28, 2024
• First Posted: March 12, 2024
• Study Start: September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2029
• Last Updated: March 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

CA (4)