The impact of perioperative vitamin C on postoperative pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Pooled result · Postoperative painResult — go to the resultSMD −0.69 95% CI −0.98 to −0.40Authors' conclusion
Perioperative vitamin C may be associated with reduced acute pain and opioid consumption, with a favorable safety profile, although these findings were limited by substantial heterogeneity and publication bias.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing surgery
- Participants
- 3,041 patients · 27 randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
- Comparison
- Perioperative vitamin C vs control
- Outcome
- Postoperative pain
- Follow-up
- 24 h
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
SMD
−0.69
95% CI −0.98 to −0.40
Vitamin C vs Control
SMD −0.69 (95% CI −0.98 to −0.40)
Further pooled results
| Outcome | MD (mg) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Morphine consumption · 24 h | −4.25 (−6.14 to −2.35) | |
| Morphine consumption · 48 h | −11.70 (−14.18 to −9.21) | |
| −20−10010Difference, mg (linear scale) |
- Morphine consumption: greater opioid-sparing effect at 48 h
Need for rescue analgesia
- Reduced need for rescue analgesia with perioperative vitamin C
- RR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.84
PONV · 1 h
- Lower incidence of PONV at 1 h with perioperative vitamin C
- RR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.79
Postoperative complex regional pain syndrome-1 (CRPS-1)
- Reduced risk of postoperative CRPS-1 with perioperative vitamin C
- RR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.58
Chronic pain · 3 months
- Reduction did not reach statistical significance
Hospital stay and intraoperative blood loss
- No significant effects
Safety
- No serious adverse events related to vitamin C reported
Original publication
The impact of perioperative vitamin C on postoperative pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Anesth. Published 7 September 2026. doi:10.
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