This is what the WHO found in the Wuhan market 2:19
(CNN) -
Can Vitamin C and Zinc Help You Fight Covid-19?
No, not even in high doses, according to the first randomized clinical trial to test these two supplements under medical supervision.
Despite the popular use of vitamin C and zinc to fight or lessen the severity of viral colds and the flu, the new study, published Friday in
JAMA Network Open
, found that these two supplements had no benefit for people. who remained isolated in their homes with covid-19.
In fact, the findings were so unimpressive that the study was stopped early.
"Unfortunately, these two supplements did not live up to expectations," wrote John Hopkins' Dr. Erin Michos and Houston Methodist's Dr. Miguel Cainzos-Achirica, in an accompanying editorial.
How was the study done?
In the clinical trial, high doses of each supplement were administered alone and in combination to one of three groups of 214 adults who were recovering at home.
A fourth group received the usual care, such as rest, hydration, and fever-reducing medications, but no supplements.
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"High-dose zinc gluconate (zinc), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), or both supplements did not reduce the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2," according to Dr. Milind Desai, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, and a team from that center.
However, the high doses did cause some unpleasant side effects in patients taking the supplements.
"More adverse effects (nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps) were reported in the (people taking the) supplements groups than in the usual care group," wrote Michos, associate professor of Medicine at Johns University School of Medicine. Hopkins, and Cainzos-Achirica, assistant professor of preventive cardiology at the Houston Methodist.
Vitamin C and zinc, two popular supplements (beyond covid-19)
Many Americans turn to vitamin C and zinc supplements to fight viral colds and flu.
Vitamin C is a recognized antioxidant and plays an essential role in supporting the immune system.
Although it has not been shown to prevent disease, other research has found that vitamin C can shorten colds by 8% in adults and 14% in children.
However, using vitamin C after cold symptoms start does not appear to be helpful, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Zinc may contribute to the ability of cells to fight infection, according to the study, "while there is evidence that zinc deficiency increases pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreases antibody production."
But what does that mean in real life?
If taken within 24 hours of the first signs of a cold, zinc can reduce the duration of a cold by one day, according to a review of 13 studies.
The secundary effects
There is also a downside.
Taking more than 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C a day can cause heartburn, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches.
The average recommended daily amount of vitamin C is 75 milligrams for adult women and 90 milligrams for men.
Consuming more than 40 milligrams of zinc per day can cause dry mouth, nausea, loss of appetite, and diarrhea.
Additionally, zinc can have an unpleasant metallic taste.
Long-term users may have "low copper levels, lowered immunity, and low HDL cholesterol (the 'good cholesterol')," according to the NIH.
In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public against the use of zinc nasal sprays because it was associated with more than 100 cases of loss of smell.
The investigation continues
Scientists continue to explore the use of vitamins and supplements in the treatment of Covid-19.
Randomized trials are currently underway to see if vitamin D supplements can help (in addition to contributing to healthy bone growth, vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties).
Researchers in the United States and China are administering intravenous doses of vitamin C to determine if they might help people with respiratory distress severe enough to be hooked up to a respirator.
And more studies are being done to determine if Covid-19 can be prevented with supplements like vitamins C and D and zinc.
However, according to this study, the use of vitamin C and zinc to shorten the duration of COVID-19 appears to be useless.
CNN's Maggie Fox contributed to this story.
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