Scientists from ViaMed Polyclinic and elsewhere found that low doses of vitamin C are effective and safe for people with COVID-19 to take.
However, despite the usefulness of vitamin C in changing the course of COVID-19, it is too early to modify guidelines and recommendations.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, millions of people have died, and the medical system has faced significant difficulties.
In the current study, researchers aimed to review and estimate the effect of vitamin C on in-hospital death and the ICU or hospital length of stay for people with COVID-19.
They conducted a systematic review of 19 studies that tested the effect of vitamin C supplementation, compared with standard treatment in adult COVID-19 patients.
The team found in-hospital death with and without vitamin C supplementation was 24.1% vs. 33.9%, respectively.
Further analyses showed that in randomized studies, in-hospital death varied and amounted to 23.9% vs. 35.8% respectively.
In the non-randomized studies, in-hospital death was 24.2% vs. 33.5%, respectively.
The team also found the ICU length of stay was longer in people treated with vitamin C vs. standard therapy, 11.1 vs. 8.3 days, respectively.
Kidney injury in patients treated with and without vitamin C varied and amounted to 27.8% vs. 45.0%, respectively.
There were no differences in the frequency of other adverse events among patients’ treatment with and without vitamin C.
The team also found the use of vitamin C reduces hospital mortality. But the length of stay in the ICU is longer among people treated with vitamin C. In terms of patient safety, vitamin C has an acceptable profile.
Based on the findings, the researchers suggest that low doses of vitamin C are effective and safe.
Despite some evidence of the usefulness of vitamin C in changing the course of COVID-19, it is too early to modify guidelines and recommendations.
The research was published in Nutrients and conducted by Monika Olczak-Pruc et al.
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