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REVIEW ARTICLE

An expanded hypothesis: The role of ascorbate and glucose in the intracellular processes and immunobiology of Ebola virus haemorrhagic fever

Ivan Chicano Wust1*
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1 Faculty of Science, National University of Distance Education, Calle de Bravo Murillo, Madrid , Spain
MI, 026270080 https://doi.org/10.36922/MI026270080
Received: 5 July 2026 | Revised: 17 August 2026 | Accepted: 7 September 2026 | Published online: 23 September 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

The opposing effects of glucose and ascorbate transport on physiological processes may help explain Ebola virus disease pathophysiology. The virus impairs intracellular interferon (IFN) signalling. High plasma glucose levels contribute to oxidative stress and may also inhibit IFN signalling. Conversely, ascorbate may counteract the virus-mediated IFN blockade and interfere with viral budding. Dysregulation of glucose and ascorbate homeostasis may contribute to the pathophysiology of Ebola virus haemorrhagic fever by promoting oxidative stress, activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, and a cytokine storm. Hyperglycaemia commonly occurs in critically ill patients with Ebola virus haemorrhagic fever. Therefore, haemorrhagic fever syndrome could be understood as a state of oxidative stress driven by hyperglycaemia, NF-κB pathway activation, and inflammatory cytokines. A potential treatment strategy would focus on administering ascorbate and glutathione, together with glucose or insulin as appropriate, to maintain normal, stable plasma glucose levels and combat oxidative and inflammatory stress.

Keywords
Ebola virus
Ascorbate
Glucose
Interferon
Nuclear factor kappa B
Oxidative stress
Interleukin-6
CYPP450
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The author declares no conflict of interest.
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