The study finds that vitamin C, zinc does not diminish the symptoms of Covid-19

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No, not even at high doses, according to the first randomized clinical trial to test the two supplements under medical supervision.

Despite the popular use of vitamin C and zinc to combat or reduce the severity of viral colds and flu, the new study, published Friday in the JAMA Network Open, found that the two supplements had no benefit for people isolating themselves at home. with Covid-19. .

In fact, the findings were so unimpressive that the study was stopped early.

“Unfortunately, these two supplements failed to live up to their stature,” wrote Dr. Erin Michos of John Hopkins and Dr. Miguel Cainzos-Achirica of the Houston Methodist in an accompanying editorial.
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The clinical trial gave high doses of each supplement alone and in combination to one of three groups of 214 adults who were healing at home. A fourth group received standard care, such as rest, hydration, and fever-reducing medications, but without supplements.

“High doses of zinc gluconate (zinc), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or both supplements did not reduce the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2,” according to Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Dr. Milind Desai and a team at Cleveland Clinic.

However, high doses have caused some unpleasant side effects for patients taking supplements.

“More side effects (nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramps) have been reported in the supplement groups than in the regular care group,” wrote Michos, an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins and Cainzos University School of Medicine. Achirica, assistant professor of preventive cardiology at Houston Methodist.

Popular supplements

Many Americans use vitamin C and zinc supplements to fight colds and flu.

Vitamin C is a recognized antioxidant and plays an essential role in supporting the immune system. Even if it has not been shown to prevent disease, others research has found Vitamin C can shorten colds by 8% in adults and 14% in children.

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However, the use of vitamin C after the onset of cold symptoms does not seem to be helpful, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Zinc may help a cell’s ability to fight infections, 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 cooling time by one day, a review of 13 studies has been found.
There is also a negative aspect. Taking more than 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C a day can cause heartburn, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and headaches. The recommended average daily amount of vitamin C is 75 milligrams for adult women and 90 milligrams for men.

Over 40 milligrams of zinc each day can cause dry mouth, nausea, loss of appetite and diarrhea, plus it can have a nasty metallic taste.

Long-term users may have low copper levels, lower immunity and low levels of HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol), according to the NIH. In 2009, the FDA warned the public against the use of zinc nasal sprays because they were linked to more than 100 cases of odor loss.

Research continues

Scientists continue to explore the use of vitamins and supplements in the treatment of Covid-19.

Randomized studies are currently underway to see if vitamin D supplements can help – in addition to supporting healthy bone growth, vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties.

Researchers in the United States and China are using intravenous doses of vitamin C to determine if they could help people with respiratory failure severe enough to be put on a ventilator.

Even more studies are underway to see if Covid-19 can be prevented by supplements such as vitamins C and D and zinc.

Based on this study, however, the use of vitamin C and zinc to shorten the duration of Covid-19 seems unnecessary.

CNN’s Maggie Fox contributed to this story.

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