Twenty-four patients with severe sepsis in the medical intensive care unit were randomized 1:1:1 to receive intravenous infusions every six hours for four days of ascorbic acid : Lo-AscA ( 50 mg/kg/24 h , n = 8 ) , or Hi-AscA ( 200 mg/kg/24 h , n = 8 ) , or Placebo ( 5 % dextrose/water , n = 8 ) .