High-dose ascorbic acid (vitamin C) therapy (66 mg/kg per hour) attenuates postburn lipid peroxidation, resuscitation fluid volume requirements, and edema generation in severely burned patients. Study Design and Setting:A prospective, randomized study at a university trauma and critical care center in Japan.Subjects and Methods: Thirty-seven patients with burns over more than 30% of their total body surface area (TBSA) hospitalized within 2 hours after injury were randomly divided into ascorbic acid and control groups. Fluid resuscitation was performed using Ringer lactate solution to maintain stable hemodynamic measurements and adequate urine output (0.5-1.0 mL/kg per hour). In the ascorbic acid group (n = 19; mean burn size, 63% ± 26% TBSA; mean burn index, 57 ± 26; inhalation injury, 15/ 19), ascorbic acid was infused during the initial 24hour study period. In the control group (n = 18; mean burn size, 53% ± 17% TBSA; mean burn index, 47 ± 13; inhalation injury, 12/18), no ascorbic acid was infused. We compared hemodynamic and respiratory measurements, lipid peroxidation, and fluid balance for 96 hours after injury. Two-way analysis of variance and Tukey test were used to analyze the data.