Testing Vitamin C against a placebo for acute pain
Official title: Effect of Vitamin C on Pain Reduction After an Emergency Department Visit
Vitamin C for Acute Musculoskeletal Pain in Emergency Department Patients: A Triple-Blind Randomized Control Trial (VICAMED)
- 2 groups
- Sites in Ottawa, Lévis and 2 more cities
- Recruiting
Interventions
- Other intervention
Vitamin C
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.
- Other intervention
Placebo
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.
Canadian Sites (4)
1 of 4 recruiting
- Recruiting
Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal
Montreal, Quebec
- Not yet recruiting
The Ottawa Hospital - General and Civic Campus
Ottawa, Ontario
- Not yet recruiting
Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis
Lévis, Quebec
- Not yet recruiting
CHU de Québec - Université Laval
Québec, Quebec
Eligibility Criteria
See who this study is looking for14 criteria
The trial’s own eligibility text, word for word from the registry. Only the trial site can say who takes part.
Inclusion
- +Age ≥ 18 years old
- +Verbal numerical rating scale pain intensity at triage of ≥ 4 on a 0-10 scale
- +Presenting to the ED with acute MSK pain of ≤ 48 hours duration at triage
- +Triaged to the ambulatory section of the ED
- +Able to communicate in French or English
Exclusion
- −Allergy to milk (lactose in the placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more →) or Vit C
- −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-upFollow-upContinued check-ins after the treatment part is finished.Read more →
- −Treated with cyclosporine or warfarin
- −Pre-existing oxalate nephropathy, liver cirrhosis or hemochromatosis
- −Hospitalized after clinician evaluation
In plain language
Assembled directly from this trial’s registry record. Every sentence traces to a field below — nothing here is generated or interpreted.
What this study is
This study is investigating how something functions in the body, rather than testing a treatment directly.
This study is not organised into the usual phase numbers — that is common for device, behavioural, and diagnostic research.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.primaryPurpose
- designModule.phases
Who receives what
There are 2 groups in this study.
Group A receives Vitamin C.
Registry label: A: Vitamin C
Group B, the placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group, receives Placebo.
Registry label: B: Placebo
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].label
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].interventionNames
How the study is run
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
You, the study team, and the people analysing the results would all be kept unaware of which group you are in until the study ends.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
Is there a placebo?
One group receives a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → — a dummy treatment with no active medicine in it.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].interventionNames
Who the study is looking for
The study lists a minimum age of 18 years, with no upper limit given.
The study is open to people of any sex.
The study does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
These are the criteria the study lists. Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How big and how long
The study aims to enrol about 204 people.
The study is currently expected to finish around December 2029.
The main measurement is taken over: Three days.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
What the study measures
Time-weighted sum of the pain-intensity difference (SPID) — measured over Three days.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].measure
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
Source: NCT06306183 on ClinicalTrials.gov. The full registry text is further down this page — this summary never replaces it.
Not medical advice. What do these terms mean?
What is being tested — in plain terms
About Vitamin CDietary 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.
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a dietary supplement is here: A vitamin, mineral, or other supplement being studied.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
About PlaceboOther
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.
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a other is here: An intervention the registry did not place in another category.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
Common questions
Answered from this trial’s registry record. Where the record doesn’t say, these answers say so rather than filling the gap.
Am I eligible for this trial?
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part. Concord cannot make that determination, and neither can any tool that has not examined you.
What the study lists: a minimum age of 18 years.
The full inclusionInclusion criteriaThe things you must have or be for a study to consider you.Read more → and exclusion criteriaExclusion criteriaThe things that would prevent someone from taking part.Read more → are published on this page, exactly as the study team wrote them.
The useful next step is to bring this trial to your doctor. Answering a few questions first gives them something concrete to review.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.eligibilityCriteria
Is there a placebo?
Yes. This study includes a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group — a dummy treatment with no active medicine in it.
From the trial registry
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Would I know which treatment I am getting?
You, the study team, and the people analysing the results would all be kept unaware of which group you are in until the study ends.
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
From the trial registry
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
Who can join?
The study lists a minimum age of 18 years, with no upper limit given.
It is open to people of any sex.
It does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can confirm whether a particular person can take part.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How long would this take?
The study's main measurement is taken over: Three days.
The study as a whole is currently expected to finish around 2029-12.
How long any one person takes part can differ from the study length. The study team can tell you what the schedule looks like in practice.
From the trial registry
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
How many people are taking part?
The study aims to enrol about 204 people.
From the trial registry
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
Where is this happening?
This study lists 4 locations, including: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Lévis, Quebec, Canada; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Québec, Quebec, Canada.
Sites can open and close during a study, so confirm with the team before travelling.
From the trial registry
- trial_locations
About This Trial
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.
Think this trial might be right for you?
Complete a quick intake form and we will match you with this and other relevant trials based on your medical profile.
See if this trial could fit youThis page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical trial eligibility can only be determined by the trial site after proper screening. Trial information is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the most current status. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about clinical trial participation.