The double burden of malnutrition and gross motor development in infants: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present work was to study the relationship between the double burden of malnutrition and gross motor development in infants. METHOD: ology: Sample included 5900 infants under 24 months of age, participants of the ENSANUT-ECU study. To evaluate nutritional status, we calculated z-scores for body mass index/age (BAZ) and height/age (HAZ). Six gross motor milestones were considered: sitting without-support, crawling, standing and walking with-support, standing and walking without-support. Data was analysed using logistic regression models in R. RESULTS: Independently form age, sex and other socio-economic factors, the probability of achieving three gross motor milestones was significantly lower among chronically undernourished infants compared to their peers: sitting without-support, crawling, and walking without-support. Compared to no malnourished infants the probability of sitting without-support at six months was 10% lower for chronically undernourished infants (0.70, 95%CI [0.64-0.75]; 0.60, 95%CI [0.52-0.67]; respectively). The probability of crawling at eight months and walking without-support at 12 months were also significantly lower among chronically undernourished infants (0.62, 95%CI [0.58-0.67]); 0.25, 95%CI [0.20-0.30]; respectively) in comparison to no malnourished infants (0.67, 95%CI [0.63-0.72]); 0.29, 95%CI [0.25-0.34]; respectively). Obesity/overweight was not associated with the achievement of gross motor milestones, except for sitting without-support. Chronically undernourished infants with low or high BMI/age were generally delayed in the achievement of gross motor milestones than their peers. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic undernutrition is related to delayed gross motor development. Public health measures are needed to be implemented to prevent the double burden of malnutrition and its detrimental effects on infant development.

Estado nutricional de los adultos ecuatorianos y su distribución según las características sociodemográficas. Estudio transversal / Nutritional status in Ecuadorian adults and its distribution according to socio-demographic characteristics. A cross-sectional study

Introducción: el 30 % de la población mundial presenta actualmente problemas de sobrepeso y obesidad, mientras que en Ecuador la incidencia es del 64,68 %. La identificación de grupos poblacionales más vulnerables al sobrepeso y la obesidad es un tema básico para establecer mejores políticas públicas. Objetivo: identificar a los grupos poblacionales con riesgo de sobrepeso y obesidad según determinantes sociodemográficos (etnia, estado civil, pobreza y edad). Métodos: estudio transversal. Se analizaron los datos de 89.212 adultos de ambos sexos provenientes del estudio ENSANUT-EC 2018. Se utilizó el índice de masa corporal (IMC) para evaluar la prevalencia del sobrepeso y la obesidad, y se realizó un análisis de regresión lineal múltiple para relacionar el IMC con los determinantes sociodemográficos. Resultados: las mujeres presentaron en promedio 1,03 kg/m2 más que los hombres y el IMC se elevó 0,04 kg/m2 por cada año de edad. En relación al estado civil, los casados presentaron 1,14 kg/m2 más que los solteros. Tomando en cuenta los quintiles de pobreza y al q1 como categoría de referencia, los quintiles 2, 3 y 4 mostraron un IMC mayor en 0,65, 0,88, 0,77 y 0,41 kg/m2, respectivamente (p < 0,001). En cuanto a la etnia, los indígenas presentaron un IMC 0,78 kg/m2 menor que el de los blancos; los montubios y los afroamericanos presentaron 0,37 y 0,61 kg/m2, respectivamente, más que los blancos. Las personas que residen en el área urbana presentan 0,41 kg/m2 más que los residentes del área rural. Conclusiones: identificamos grupos de mayor riesgo nutricional, como las mujeres y las personas casadas, para el sobrepeso y la obesidad, mientras que los indígenas y las personas más pobres tienen riesgo de bajo peso, lo que indica que en Ecuador los adultos presentan problemas tanto de exceso como de déficit. Es necesaria la implementación de políticas dirigidas a grupos poblacionales especificos. (AU)

Introduction: 30 % of the world population currently has overweight and obesity problems, while in Ecuador this is 64.68 %. The identification of population groups more vulnerable to overweight and obesity is a basic issue to establish better public policies.Objective: to identify the population groups at risk of overweight and obesity according to socio-demographic determinants (ethnicity, marital status, poverty and age).Methods: a cross-sectional study. Data from 89,212 adults of both sexes were analyzed. Body mass index (BMI) was used to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to relate BMI to sociodemographic determinants.Results: women had an average of 1.03 kg/m2 more than men, and BMI rose by 0.04 kg/m2 for each year of age. In relation to marital status, married people presented 1.14 kg/m2 more than single people. Taking into account the poverty quintiles and q1 as a reference category, quintiles 2, 3 and 4 showed a higher BMI of 0.65, 0.88, 0.77 and 0.41 kg/m2, respectively (p < 0.001). Regarding ethnicity, indigenous people had a BMI 0.78 kg/m2 less than whites; Montubios and Afro-Americans had 0.37 and 0.61 kg/m2, respectively, more than whites. People residing in the urban area present 0.41 kg/m2 more than the residents in the rural area.Conclusions: we identified groups of higher nutritional risk such as women and married people for overweight and obesity, while indigenous people and the poorest people were at risk for low weight, which indicates that in Ecuador adults have problems of both excess and deficit. It is necessary to implement policies aimed at specific population groups. (AU)

[Nutritional status in Ecuadorian adults and its distribution according to socio-demographic characteristics. A cross-sectional study]. / Estado nutricional de los adultos ecuatorianos y su distribución según las características sociodemográficas. Estudio transversal.

Introduction: Introduction: 30 % of the world population currently has overweight and obesity problems, while in Ecuador this is 64.68 %. The identification of population groups more vulnerable to overweight and obesity is a basic issue to establish better public policies. Objective: to identify the population groups at risk of overweight and obesity according to socio-demographic determinants (ethnicity, marital status, poverty and age). Methods: a cross-sectional study. Data from 89,212 adults of both sexes were analyzed. Body mass index (BMI) was used to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to relate BMI to sociodemographic determinants. Results: women had an average of 1.03 kg/m2 more than men, and BMI rose by 0.04 kg/m2 for each year of age. In relation to marital status, married people presented 1.14 kg/m2 more than single people. Taking into account the poverty quintiles and q1 as a reference category, quintiles 2, 3 and 4 showed a higher BMI of 0.65, 0.88, 0.77 and 0.41 kg/m2, respectively (p < 0.001). Regarding ethnicity, indigenous people had a BMI 0.78 kg/m2 less than whites; Montubios and Afro-Americans had 0.37 and 0.61 kg/m2, respectively, more than whites. People residing in the urban area present 0.41 kg/m2 more than the residents in the rural area. Conclusions: we identified groups of higher nutritional risk such as women and married people for overweight and obesity, while indigenous people and the poorest people were at risk for low weight, which indicates that in Ecuador adults have problems of both excess and deficit. It is necessary to implement policies aimed at specific population groups.

Introducción: Introducción: el 30 % de la población mundial presenta actualmente problemas de sobrepeso y obesidad, mientras que en Ecuador la incidencia es del 64,68 %. La identificación de grupos poblacionales más vulnerables al sobrepeso y la obesidad es un tema básico para establecer mejores políticas públicas. Objetivo: identificar a los grupos poblacionales con riesgo de sobrepeso y obesidad según determinantes sociodemográficos (etnia, estado civil, pobreza y edad). Métodos: estudio transversal. Se analizaron los datos de 89.212 adultos de ambos sexos provenientes del estudio ENSANUT-EC 2018. Se utilizó el índice de masa corporal (IMC) para evaluar la prevalencia del sobrepeso y la obesidad, y se realizó un análisis de regresión lineal múltiple para relacionar el IMC con los determinantes sociodemográficos. Resultados: las mujeres presentaron en promedio 1,03 kg/m2 más que los hombres y el IMC se elevó 0,04 kg/m2 por cada año de edad. En relación al estado civil, los casados presentaron 1,14 kg/m2 más que los solteros. Tomando en cuenta los quintiles de pobreza y al q1 como categoría de referencia, los quintiles 2, 3 y 4 mostraron un IMC mayor en 0,65, 0,88, 0,77 y 0,41 kg/m2, respectivamente (p < 0,001). En cuanto a la etnia, los indígenas presentaron un IMC 0,78 kg/m2 menor que el de los blancos; los montubios y los afroamericanos presentaron 0,37 y 0,61 kg/m2, respectivamente, más que los blancos. Las personas que residen en el área urbana presentan 0,41 kg/m2 más que los residentes del área rural. Conclusiones: identificamos grupos de mayor riesgo nutricional, como las mujeres y las personas casadas, para el sobrepeso y la obesidad, mientras que los indígenas y las personas más pobres tienen riesgo de bajo peso, lo que indica que en Ecuador los adultos presentan problemas tanto de exceso como de déficit. Es necesaria la implementación de políticas dirigidas a grupos poblacionales especificos.

Cognitive function and vitamin B12 and D among community-dwelling elders: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Little is know on the association between mild or sub-clinical vitamin B12 or D deficiencies and cognitive decline. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the association between vitamin B12 and D levels, and cognitive function in community-dwelling elders. METHODS: Cross-sectional study that included data from elders who participated in the SABE study, a population-based study that was carried out in Ecuador. Participants of SABE were selected by probabilistic sampling from the whole country. Vitamin B12 and D were measured in blood and cognitive status was assessed using an abbreviated version of the minimental state examination (MMSE). RESULTS: The sample included 1733 elders from whom 936 (54.01%) were female. Independently from sex, age, years of education, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and geographical zone of residence, we found that vitamin B12 levels were associated to MMSE scores and that this relationship changed depending on age. In this way, we observed that from 75 years of age, drop of cognitive function was particularly steep in individuals with low levels of vitamin B12. We did not find evidence to support an association between vitamin D levels and cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of vitamin B12 but not of vitamin D are associated with low cognitive functioning in a sample of community-dwelling elders.

Relationship between perceived stress and emotional eating. A cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Stress-related to self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown a strong correlation with issues in the diet and health of the population. In this study, we aimed to relate the perceived stress of a group of Ecuadorian adults with emotional eating. METHODS: Cross-sectional design study. We applied validated questionnaires of perceived stress and emotional eating to adults of both sexes who virtually completed a form between the months of January and March 2021. The analyzes were carried out using Chi2 statistical tests, Student's t-tests and a multiple linear regression model., the analyzes were performed using the statistical software R. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 2333 participants, the median age was 25 years (interquartile range 21-37 years). Females reported more perceived stress than males (77.91% vs. 22.09%). Nearly 64% of participants who displayed perceived stress were emotional eaters. A statistically significant association was found between the emotional eating score and perceived stress (p < 0.001), the effect was an elevation of 0.44 points in the emotional eating score for each stress point perceived. For each unit increase in BMI the emotional eating score increased 0.26 units (p < 0.001) and for each unit increase in age the emotional eating score decreased by 0.27 units (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that stress is associated to emotional eating. Dietary intake that responds to emotions and not to physiological hunger may have long-term problems related to unhealthy diet. It is recommended to consider stress and emotional eating in the nutritional care process of people.

Estimación del peso conforme a la edad en niños y niñas ecuatorianos: validación de la ecuación APLS / Estimation of weight based on age in Ecuadorian boys and girls: a validation of the APLS formula

INTRODUCCIÓN: en niños y niñas, la aplicación de intervenciones terapéuticas, lo que incluye la administración de medicamentos, se basa en el peso corporal. OBJETIVO: validar las ecuaciones propuestas por "Advanced Pediatric Life Support - APLS" en 2011 (APLS 1) y 2001 (APLS 2) para estimar el peso de las niñas y niños ecuatorianos, considerando la diversidad étnica y los grupos de edad. MÉTODOS: estudio transversal que incluyó 21.735 niñas y niños pertenecientes a tres grupos étnicos -mestizo, indígena y otro (blancos, negros y mulatos)- con edades comprendidas entre 0 y 12 años y que habían participado en el estudio ENSANUT-ECU. Se calcularon las diferencias, la correlación de Spearman, los gráficos de Bland-Altman y el porcentaje error (PE). Los datos se procesaron y analizaron usando R. RESULTADOS: la APLS 1 tiende a sobrestimar el peso mientras que la APLS 2 lo subestima. El sesgo del peso estimado fue mayor para la ecuación clásica. Los grupos étnicos indígena y otro presentaron las diferencias más altas con respecto al peso medido. Las diferencias de peso estimado con respecto al medido aumentaron progresivamente con la edad. Con la APLS 1, el porcentaje de individuos con un PE > 10 % fue mayor que con la APLS 2. CONCLUSIONES: la APLS no estima con exactitud el peso en la población pediátrica ecuatoriana. La diferencia entre el peso estimado y el peso medido es sensible a las diferencias étnicas y de edad

INTRODUCTION: in children the use of therapeutic interventions, which includes the administration of medications, is based on body weight. OBJECTIVE: to validate the equations proposed by "Advanced Pediatric Life Support - APLS" in 2011 (APLS 1) and 2001 (APLS 2) to estimate weight in Ecuadorian girls and boys, considering their ethnic diversity and age groups. METHODS: a cross-sectional study which included 21,735 girls and boys belonging to three ethnic groups: mestizo, indigenous, and other (white, black, and mulatto), with ages between 0 and 12 years, who participated in the ENSANUT-ECU study. Differences, Spearman's correlation, Bland-Altman graphs, and percentage error (PE) were calculated. Data were processed and analyzed using R. RESULTS: APLS 1 tends to overestimate weight whereas APLS 2 underestimates it. The estimated weight bias was greater for the classical equation. The indigenous and "other" ethnic groups presented the highest differences with respect to measured weight. The differences between estimated weight and measured weight increased progressively with age. With APLS 1, the percentage of individuals with a PE > 10 % was greater than with APLS 2. CONCLUSIONS: APLS does not accurately estimate weight in the Ecuadorian pediatric population. The difference between estimated weight and measured weight is sensitive to ethnic and age differences

[Estimation of weight based on age in Ecuadorian boys and girls: a validation of the APLS formula]. / Estimación del peso conforme a la edad en niños y niñas ecuatorianos: validación de la ecuación APLS.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: in children the use of therapeutic interventions, which includes the administration of medications, is based on body weight. Objective: to validate the equations proposed by "Advanced Pediatric Life Support - APLS" in 2011 (APLS 1) and 2001 (APLS 2) to estimate weight in Ecuadorian girls and boys, considering their ethnic diversity and age groups. Methods: a cross-sectional study which included 21,735 girls and boys belonging to three ethnic groups: mestizo, indigenous, and other (white, black, and mulatto), with ages between 0 and 12 years, who participated in the ENSANUT-ECU study. Differences, Spearman's correlation, Bland-Altman graphs, and percentage error (PE) were calculated. Data were processed and analyzed using R. Results: APLS 1 tends to overestimate weight whereas APLS 2 underestimates it. The estimated weight bias was greater for the classical equation. The indigenous and "other" ethnic groups presented the highest differences with respect to measured weight. The differences between estimated weight and measured weight increased progressively with age. With APLS 1, the percentage of individuals with a PE > 10 % was greater than with APLS 2. Conclusions: APLS does not accurately estimate weight in the Ecuadorian pediatric population. The difference between estimated weight and measured weight is sensitive to ethnic and age differences.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: en niños y niñas, la aplicación de intervenciones terapéuticas, lo que incluye la administración de medicamentos, se basa en el peso corporal. Objetivo: validar las ecuaciones propuestas por "Advanced Pediatric Life Support ­ APLS" en 2011 (APLS 1) y 2001 (APLS 2) para estimar el peso de las niñas y niños ecuatorianos, considerando la diversidad étnica y los grupos de edad. Métodos: estudio transversal que incluyó 21.735 niñas y niños pertenecientes a tres grupos étnicos ­mestizo, indígena y otro (blancos, negros y mulatos)­ con edades comprendidas entre 0 y 12 años y que habían participado en el estudio ENSANUT-ECU. Se calcularon las diferencias, la correlación de Spearman, los gráficos de Bland-Altman y el porcentaje error (PE). Los datos se procesaron y analizaron usando R. Resultados: la APLS 1 tiende a sobrestimar el peso mientras que la APLS 2 lo subestima. El sesgo del peso estimado fue mayor para la ecuación clásica. Los grupos étnicos indígena y otro presentaron las diferencias más altas con respecto al peso medido. Las diferencias de peso estimado con respecto al medido aumentaron progresivamente con la edad. Con la APLS 1, el porcentaje de individuos con un PE > 10 % fue mayor que con la APLS 2. Conclusiones: la APLS no estima con exactitud el peso en la población pediátrica ecuatoriana. La diferencia entre el peso estimado y el peso medido es sensible a las diferencias étnicas y de edad.

Blood Pressure in Andean Adults Living Permanently at Different Altitudes.

Vinueza Veloz, Andrés Fernando, Aymaru Kailli Yaulema Riss, Chris I. De Zeeuw, Tannia Valeria Carpio Arias, and María Fernanda Vinueza Veloz. Blood pressure in Andean adults living permanently at different altitudes. High Alt Med Biol. 21:360-369, 2020. Aims: To estimate the association between blood pressure (BP) and chronic exposure to altitude in nonhypertensive Andean adults, while taking ethnicity into consideration. Materials and Methods: Sample included 10,041 nonhypertensive adults with indigenous or mixed ethnic background (the latter also referred to as mestizos), who permanently lived at different altitudes. BP was measured following international recommendations. Altitude was measured in meters above the sea level (masl) using a global positioning system. Data were analyzed through linear regression models with restricted cubic splines. Results: A significant nonlinear relation between altitude and systolic blood pressure (SBP) as well as diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was found (both p < 0.001). BP described a j-shaped curve, where the minimum was observed between 750 and 1250 masl, from where both SBP and DBP rose as altitude increased. These associations were independent from sex, age, index of economic wellbeing, body mass index, and years of education. Interestingly, at all altitudes indigenous people had lower SBP and DBP in comparison to mestizos (both p < 0.001). Conclusions: Living permanently at altitudes ≥750 masl is associated with higher SBP and DBP in Andean dwellers and this association is modulated by their ethnic background.

Burnout syndrome among Ecuadorian medical doctors and nurses during COVID-19 pandemic / Síndrome de Burnout en médicos/as y enfermeros/as ecuatorianos durante la pandemia de COVID-19

Objective: To determine the occurrence and intensity of Burnout Syndrome (SB) in Ecuadorian doctors and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and methods: Observational cross-sectional study. 224 physicians and nurses from establishments of the Ecuadorian comprehensive health network participated. Participants were administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Data were analyzed through linear regression models using R.Results: More than 90% of the medical and nursing staff presented moderate-severe SB, which was statistically significantly associated with function (doctor vs. nurse), age and gender. Medical personnel were affected more frequently than nursing personnel, both globally and on the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization subscales.Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemine more than 90% of the medical and nursingpersonnel presented moderate to severe SB, with the medical staff being the most frequentlyaffected.

Objetivo: Determinar la ocurrencia e intensidad de Síndrome de Burnout (SB) en médicos y enfermeros/as ecuatorianos/as durante la pandemia del COVID-19.Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional de corte transversal. Participaron 224 médicos/as y enfermeros/as de establecimientos de la red integral de salud ecuatoriana, a quienes se administró el Inventario de Burnout de Maslach. Se analizaron los datos a través de modelos deregresión lineal usando R.Resultados: Más del 90% del personal médico y de enfermería presento SB moderado-severo, el cual se asoció de manera estadísticamente significativa a función (médico vs. enfermera/o),edad y género. El personal médico es afectado con mayor frecuencia que el personal de enfermería, tanto a nivel global como en las subescalas de agotamiento emocional y despersonalización.Conclusión: Durante la pandemia de COVID-19 más del 90% del personal médico y de enfermería presentó SB moderado a severo, siendo el personal médico el afectado con más frecuencia.

Resistencia antibacteriana de Escherichia Coli aislada en orina en el Hospital General Puyo / Antibacterial resistance of Escherichia Coli isolated in urine at Puyo General Hospital

Introducción: Escherichia Coli es el agente causal más común de las infecciones del tracto urinario. El empleo de antibióticos constituye el pilar terapéutico de las ITU, el empleo racional de los antibióticos requiere el conocimiento de la resistencia antimicrobiana local de Escherichia coli. Objetivo: describir la resistencia antibacteriana de Escherichia Coli aislada en urocultivos en el Hospital General Puyo durante el periodo enero ­ diciembre del 2017. Métodos: estudio descriptivo, observacional de corte transversal. Se analizaron 470 urocultivos con crecimiento de Escherichia Coli, mediante el método de Bauer y Kirby se evaluaron ácido nalidíxico, ampicilina, amoxicilina más ácido clavulánico, ampicilina más sulbactam, amikacina, gentamicina, cefazolina, cefalotina, cefepime, cefotaxima, ceftriaxona, cefuroxima, ceftazidima, cefoxitina, imipenem, meropenem, ciprofloxacina, norfloxacina, trimetropim sulfametoxazol, fosfomicina y nitrofurantoina. Resultados: La resistencia antibacteriana de Escherichia Coli frente a amoxicilina y ampicilina es del 85% y 81% respectivamente, en trimetropim/sulfametoxazol es del 61%, para fosfomicina del 12% y carbapenémicos el 0%. Conclusiones: La resistencia antibacteriana es alta frente a amínopenicilinas y sulfas y es baja frente a carbapenémicos y fosfomicina

Tomografía de Coherencia Óptica, perspectivas de uso en oftalmología. Revisión bibliográfica / Optical Coherence Tomography, perspectives for use in ophtalmology. Literature review

Introducción: la tomografía de coherencia óptica (OCT por sus siglas en inglés) es un tipo de examen de imagen no invasivo que usa ondas de luz para obtener imágenes digitales de alta resolución de tejidos, a nivel microscópico. Objetivo: el objetivo del presente estudio fue conocer las perspectivas de uso en el ámbito de la oftalmología de la OCT. Metodología: se realizó una revisión bibliográfica narrativa usando artículos científicos relacionados al tema, tanto en inglés como en español, extraídos de Pubmed, Latindex, Scielo y Lilacs. La información más relevante según el criterio de los autores fue extraída y sintetizada en el presente artículo. Resultados y Discusión: nuestros hallazgos resaltan la importancia de la OCT en oftalmología, especialmente en el diagnóstico temprano y siguimiento terapeútico de pacientes con patologías oculares. Conclusiones: se debe considerar el uso rutinario de OCT en la consulta de oftalmología, ya que constituye un examen de imagen confiable, no invasivo y con una amplitud de usos.

Introduction: optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a type of non­invasive imaging test that uses light waves to obtain digital high resolution images of tissues at a microscopical level. Objective: the objective of the present study was to know more about perspectives of use in ophtalmology of OCT. Methodology: we performeda a narrative literature review, using cientific articles related to the topic, both in English and Spanish; the articles were extracted from Pubmed, Latindex, Scielo and Lilacs. The most relevant information according to the criterion of the authors was extracted and synthesized and in the present article. Results and Discussion: our findings highlilght the importance of OCT in ophtalmology, spcially in relation to diagnosis and therapeutic follow­up of patients with ocular pathologies. Conclusions: it is worth to consider the routine use of OCT in ophtalmogy consultations since it is relible imaging test, non­invasive and with amplitude of uses.

Uso de megadosis de vitamina C en la cicatrización y desinflamación de heridas quirúrgicas / Use of megadoses of vitamin C in the healing and disinflammation of surgical wounds

Fundamento: En el campo hospitalario, aún es tema de controversia sobre cuándo recomendar el uso de altas dosis de Vitamina C. Objetivo: Determinar la utilidad clínica de la Vitamina C a grandes dosis por vía intravenosa. Metodología: Se revisaron artículos académicos disponibles en MedLine, EMBASE, Cochrane, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Scielo, Pubmed, Medigraphic, Elsevier y Biblioteca Virtual en Salud. Resultados: El uso de megadosis de vitamina C después de un procedimiento quirúrgico presenta efectos favorables en la resolución del proceso inflamatorio a dosis de 3 gramos al día administrados parenteralmente, a su vez, al ser usado como coadyuvante en la cicatrización de heridas a dosis de 4 gramos al día ejerce un efecto beneficioso contra la dehiscencia de heridas. Estas propiedades se explican por la capacidad del ácido ascórbico para disminuir la actividad de las citocinas proinflamatorias, además de su participación en la síntesis del colágeno tipo I, elemento indispensable para una adecuada formación cicatricial. Conclusiones: Varios estudios comprobaron los beneficios del uso de megadosis de la vitamina C después de un procedimiento quirúrgico.

Background: There is still controversy over how to recommend the use of high doses of Vitamin C in treatment of patients in hospitals. Objective: To determine the clinical usefulness of Vitamin C at high doses intravenously. Methodology: Review of academic articles available in MedLine, EMBASE, Cochrane, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Scielo, Pubmed, Medigraphic, Elsevier and Virtual Health. Results: The use of megadoses of vitamin C afer asurgical procedure has favorable effects in the resolution of the inflammatory process at doses of 3 grams per day administered parenterally. Sometimes it is used as a coadjuvant in the wound healing process at doses of 4 grams per day with beneficial effects and against wound dehiscence. These properties are explained by the ability of ascorbic acid to decrease the activity of proinflammatory cytokines, and in addition to its participation in the synthesis of collagen type I, indispensable element for an adequate scar formation. Conclusions: Several studies have shown the benefits of using megadoses of vitamin C after a surgical procedure.