Vitamin C and the management of diabetic foot ulcers: a literature review

Objective: The lifetime risk of developing a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) in people with diabetes is as high as 25%. A trio of factors constitute the diabetic foot syndrome that characterises DFUs, including neuropathy, vascular disease and infections. Vitamin C has important functions in the nervous, cardiovascular, and immune systems that are implicated in DFU development. Furthermore, vitamin C deficiency has been observed in individuals with DFUs, suggesting an important function of vitamin C in DFU management and treatment. Therefore, this literature review evaluates the role of vitamin C in the nervous, cardiovascular and immune systems in relation to wound healing and DFUs, as well as discussing vitamin C's lesser known role in depression, a condition that affects many individuals with a DFU. Method: A literature search was done using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Ovid, Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects, and NIH Clinical Center. Search terms included ‘diabetic foot ulcer,’ ‘diabetic foot,’ ‘vitamin C,’ and ‘ascorbic acid.’ Results: Of the 71 studies initially identified, seven studies met the inclusion criteria, and only three were human clinical trials. Overall, the literature on this subject is limited, with mainly observational and animal studies, and few human clinical trials. Conclusion: There is a need for additional human clinical trials on vitamin C supplementation in individuals with a DFU to fill the knowledge gap and guide clinical practice.