Course overview
Over the last few decades there has been increased interest and renewed research into the role of vitamin C in acute and chronic conditions such as infection and cancer. Novel mechanisms of action have recently been discovered – dispelling many of the myths and misconceptions. Understanding the new evidence-based research in these fields will benefit health care providers in their patient care.
This e-learning course is designed to inform health care providers of the science behind vitamin C’s pleotropic roles in human health and disease, and the use of oral and intravenous vitamin C in specific health conditions, such as infection, cancer and cardiometabolic conditions. The modules include audiovisuals and links to additional resources and further reading. The modules are updated as new evidence is published.
This modular e-learning course is registered for continuing professional development (CPD) and continuing medical education (CME) credits with a number of professional organisations e.g. RNZCGP and CICM (see details further below).
Course content
This e-learning course is designed as an introduction and overview for those new to oral and intravenous vitamin C use in healthcare, as well as for those already using the vitamin in their clinical practice who wish to know more about its mechanisms of action in different conditions.
Module 1, which comprises an overview of vitamin C's functions, pharmacokinetics, and safety, should be completed before moving on to any of the other Modules that focus on the use of oral and intravenous vitamin C in specific health conditions.
Module 1
Overview of vitamin C's functions, pharmacokinetics and safety (40 min)
Module 2
Overview and measurement of vitamin C intake and body status (90 min)
Module 3
Oral and intravenous vitamin C use in infection and sepsis (70 min)
Module 4
Oral and intravenous vitamin C use in cancer (55 min)
Module 5
Role and use of vitamin C in cardiometabolic conditions (15 min)
Module 6
Intravenous vitamin C administration for practitioners (25 min)
Total length of course: 5 hours (+ additional activities, resources and reading)
This course is designed for:
- General practitioners and family practice physicians
- Critical care and internal medicine physicians
- Oncologists
- Nurse practitioners, nurses, and physician assistants
- Dietitians and nutritionists
- Doctors of naturopathic medicine
- Complementary and alternative medicine practitioners
- Health promotion and nutrition educators
CPD/CME registration with:
Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP)
- The "Department of Pathology & Biomedical Science University of Otago – Vitamin C Usage" activity has been endorsed by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and has been approved for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes.
- RNZCGP Endorsed credits: 1 CME credit per 1 learning hour
College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (CICM) Accredited
- Online Learning – Catergory 1A: Passive Self Learning (1 point per hour)
Learning goals/outcomes
Following completion of this course the participant will be able to:
- Discuss the evidence-based role of vitamin C in health care, and disease prevention and therapy to colleagues and patients (Communication, Scholarship, Professionalism)
- Explain the differences between oral and intravenous vitamin C to colleagues and patients (Communication, Scholarship, Professionalism)
- Describe how vitamin C works in the body, including mechanisms related to specific disease states, to colleagues and patients (Communication, Scholarship, Professionalism)
- Assess the potential usefulness of vitamin C administration to patients with specific health conditions in their healthcare practice (Clinical expertise, Management)
- Apply knowledge on vitamin C pharmacokinetics and administration to their healthcare practice (Clinical expertise, Professionalism)
- Demonstrate awareness of the pharmacokinetics of, and potential safety issues with oral and intravenous vitamin C (Clinical expertise, Professionalism)
Certificate of completion
Following completion of the modules of interest, please complete theself-reflection and feedback survey online (Qualtrics) or use the offline form available at the end of the modules and email to:
Research Professor Anitra Carr
Email anitra.carr@otago.ac.nz
For members of the RNZCGP, your CPD credits will be uploaded to the RNZCGP website. A certificate of completion can be emailed to you if required.
Course feedback
"I recently looked at your Vit C modules and found them stimulating and interesting."
– General Practitioner"I found it really truly useful and beneficial for both personal and professional use as a GP."
– General Practitioner"Excellent format. Thanks for putting it together – producing the course no doubt involved a lot of time and effort, but definitely a very worthwhile contribution to medicine in general. Thanks for making it available for free."
– General Practitioner"Illustrated the large body of knowledge that exists currently for using IV and oral Ascorbic acid. Not just something that is used on the 'margins' with no scientific basis."
– General Practitioner"Very interesting info on pharmacokinetics, transporters, RDA and limiting factors from previous research. Excellent!"
– General Practitioner"Well put together (overall structure, paced discussion in text body with highlighted/deeper information in images/figures). Thank you."
– General Practitioner"I was always taught that there was no robust evidence for benefits of IVVit C that justifies its use or cost to the patient."
– General Practitioner"Easy to understand presentation with excellent diagrams, very interesting links for further studies, great bullet points as a summary."
- General Practitioner"I am halfway through the modules and really enjoying it as it has somehow corrected some of the misbeliefs I had."
– Registered Nurse"Up to date and new information on the use of Vitamin C."
– Registered Nurse"Good use of visual aids and great section summaries."
– Registered Nurse"Provided great insight and information was easy to read/follow with good diagrams. Liked how there were diagrams, videos, podcasts for all different learning types."
– Nursing student and Health Care Assistant"I was so grateful this course was offered for free - this course contained such high quality information about Vitamin C - something that would take me many months to even years to research and bring it all together to something useful and meaningful to use in my clinical practice. A huge thank you for making this course available!"
- Pharmacist"I can now deliver information confidently to my colleagues and customers regarding the use of vitamin C in various health conditions as I have learned that plenty of study results have shown the benefits of vitamin C."
- Pharmacist"Extremely interesting course, thank you! Easy to follow modules presented in an interactive way." - Radiographer
Course convener
Professor Anitra Carr
Renowned for her expertise around the roles of vitamin C in human health and disease, Anitra’s translational research spans the impact and mechanisms of action of oral and intravenous vitamin C within diverse health conditions such as infection and sepsis, obesity and diabetes, cancer, and subjective mood. Anitra conducts a variety of studies, including observational, pharmacokinetic, and randomised controlled trials. She has produced a number of high impact publications that have helped inform international guidelines around recommended dietary intakes for vitamin C.
Biography:
Anitra obtained her PhD from the University of Otago, Christchurch, followed by an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship, carried out at the Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, USA, being promoted to Assistant Professor. Anitra returned to the University of Otago, Christchurch, and was awarded a four-year Health Research Council of New Zealand Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowship (2016) to undertake research into the role of vitamin C in severe infection. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and Research Professor in 2024. Recognising her sustained research excellence, Anitra was awarded the University of Otago Christchurch Gold Medal in 2021. Anitra has also served on the Editorial Boards of Nutrients and Antioxidants and as an Associate Editor for Nutrition Research.
Currently, Anitra is ranked the #1 vitamin C scholar worldwide (prior 5 years; >50,450 scholars), and is in the top 10 vitamin C scholars over lifetime (>73,500 scholars; ScholarGPS).
Passionate about knowledge dissemination, Anitra engages in ongoing community outreach and has established this Continuing Professional Development program for healthcare professionals. I hope you find it of benefit.
Contact information
If your organisation provides CPD/CME and may wish to endorse/register this e-learning course or components therein, please contact:
Anitra Carr
Email anitra.carr@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 364 0649
Also, let Professor Carr know if you have any questions about the course or relevant resources that could be included.
Please donate
This course is provided free of charge. However, there are costs incurred as part of providing this course, such as annual CPD registration fees. Therefore, please donate to the Vitamin C for Life trust to help cover these costs. Research Professor Anitra Carr does not receive any salary support for her time in preparing the content or moderating the course – this is all provided on a voluntary basis.
Once you have completed all the Modules of interest to you, please complete the self-reflection and feedback form online or email to anitra.carr@otago.ac.nz. For members of the RNZCGP, please include your MCNZ number and the modules completed so that your CPD credits can be uploaded to the RNZCGP website. A certificate of completion can be emailed to you if required.
- Self-reflection and feedback form (online)
- Self-reflection and feedback form (DOCX)
© Anitra Carr, 2022. You may not copy, modify, distribute, display, transmit, perform, publish or sell any of the copyrightable material on this website. You may hyperlink to this website but must include the following statement:
"This link leads to the website 'Oral and intravenous vitamin C use in health care' provided by the Nutrition in Medicine Research Group at University of Otago, Christchurch."