Clinical Trials on Alternative Medicines for COVID-19

Abstract

In this study, we addressed the alternative medications that have been targeted in the clinical trials (CTs) to be evidenced as an adjuvant treatment against COVID-19. Based on the outcomes from CTs, we found that dietary supplements such as Lactoferrin, and Probiotics (as SivoMixx) can play a role enhancing the immunity thus can be used as prophylactics against COVID-19 infection. Vitamin D was proven as an effective adjuvant treatment against COVID-19, while Vitamin C role is uncertain and needs more investigation. Herbals such as Guduchi Ghan Vati can be used as prophylactic, while Resveratrol can be used to reduce the hospitalization risk of COVID-19 patients. On the contrary, there were no clinical improvements demonstrated when using Cannabidiol. This study is a part of a two-phase research study. In the first phase, we gathered evidence-based information on alternative therapeutics for COVID-19 that are under CT. In the second phase, we plan to build a mobile health application that will provide evidence based alternative therapy information to health consumers.

Clinical Evidence on the Potential Beneficial Effects of Diet and Dietary Supplements against COVID-19 Infection Risk and Symptoms’ Severity

“…Se, vitamin C, and vitamin D deficiency are representative examples of micronutrient deficits associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and modest results in observational or ecological studies currently exist. According to a small number of clinical studies, individuals presenting SARS-CoV-2 infections who received vitamin C and D supplements had greater survival rates and less severe sickness [80]. As a result of the psychological consequences and limitations forced by the lockdown, the pandemic itself resulted in deteriorating lifestyle patterns in Italy.…”

“…As a result of the psychological consequences and limitations forced by the lockdown, the pandemic itself resulted in deteriorating lifestyle patterns in Italy. In this aspect, there was an increase in the consumption of unhealthy foods and a decrease in both Mediterranean diet (MD) compliance and physical activity [80]. The MD is a plant-based diet, including a high intake of fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, tree nuts, seeds, and olives.…”

COVID-19Base v3: Update of the knowledgebase for drugs and biomedical entities linked to COVID-19

“…The authors stopped tracking this after August, 2021 and no recent version of the database has been https://chineseantibody.org/opendata/dashboards/covid--mabtracker released for the community. Recently, Jaber et al highlighted the list of ongoing clinical trials of potentially effective drugs for treating COVID-19 in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (9). The authors categorized the drugs in clinical trials into five categories: (a) antiviral (e.g., remdesivir, favipiravir, and darunavir); (b) antiviral repurposed (e.g., hydroxychloroquine, artemisinin, ACE Inhibitors, etc.…”