Vitamin C and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The COVID-19 pandemic that has the world within its grip is causing many deaths, a shutdown of societies to prevent its spread, anguish and panic among populations in everyday situations and social distancing. How long will it last and is it seasonal are the lingering, yet, unanswered questions.

In the meantime, Chinese medical studies are revealing some interesting results that seem to help patients with the virus. In a clinical trial at Zhongnan Hospital in Wuhan, China, large doses of vitamin C were given to the infected intravenously. These patients were given 1500 mg, three to four times a day. The recommended amount is around 100 mg daily. The same regimen was conducted at Shanghai Hospital.

The Chinese clinical studies show that when 1500 mg were taken every 3-4 hours during the day, 3-4 times, patients with the virus did significantly better than those who were not given it at all. Those patients that are most at risk also improved despite that these doses are 16 times the recommended daily dietary allowance suggested. Given the fact that New York is a major outbreak area, many local hospitals are giving critical patients these high doses. Vitamin C, in large doses, also seemed to help patients suffering with sepsis, an inflammatory responses when the body overreacts to an virus infection.

Patients with the virus suffering from pain were given ibuprofen and paracetamol. Besides vitamin C, the B vitamins , especially B6, which supports red blood cell production and reduces inlammation, help virus patients., as does vitamins D and Zinc.

The Chinese study is promising, but is not the vaccine. Vitamin C can be taken in high does with little toxicity when given at 3-4 hour intervals and whatever the body cannot use, the body simply flushes it out.

All vitamins are worth a try to prevent or help get over the virus.