Overview of the possible role of vitamin C in management of COVID-19

Abstract

The mainstay of management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is mainly supportive as to date there is no effective antiviral treatment, apart from remdesivir which has been approved by Food and Drug administration (FDA) for treatment of COVID-19, or vaccine. Supplementation with micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, has gained an increasing interest as part of the supportive management of COVID-19. Vitamin C levels in serum and leukocytes are depleted during the acute stage of infection owing to increased metabolic demands. High-dose vitamin C supplement helps to normalise both serum and leukocytes vitamin C levels. Vitamin C has multiple pharmacological characteristics, antiviral, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, which make it a potential therapeutic option in management of COVID-19. The use of high dose of intravenous vitamin C for management of COVID-19 in China and the United Stated has shown promising results. There were no reported adverse reactions with the short-term use of high dose of vitamin C. Given the fact that vitamin C is cheap, available and safe drug with beneficial effects in management of viral infections and critically ill patients reported in previous clinical trials, it is sensible to add it to COVID-19 management protocol particularly if the current ongoing clinical trials testing the effect of vitamin C in management of COVID-19 show positive results.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ORF3a induces the expression of ACE2 in oral and pulmonary epithelial cells and the food supplement Vita Deyun® diminishes this effect

“…Vitamin C has been reported to have multiple pharmacological characteristics, including antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, which establish it as a potential therapeutic option in the management of COVID-19 ( 57 , 58 ). Indeed, previous studies have shown promising results when intravenously applying high doses of vitamin C for the management of COVID-19 ( 59 , 60 ).…”

Potential Role of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Therapies to Prevent Severe SARS-Cov-2 Complications

“…The pharmacological effects of Vitamin C that could make it a potential option for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 have recently been reviewed [ 169 ]. Clinicians using intravenous Vitamin C in severely ill COVID-19 patients have reported positive clinical effects upon administration of 3 g every 6 h, together with steroids and anti-coagulants [ 170 ].…”

Nutraceuticals in the Prevention of Viral Infections, including COVID-19, among the Pediatric Population: A Review of the Literature

“…In the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and while there is still no effective antiviral therapy, this antiviral hallmark has a new significance. In this regard, many authors have reported a strong affinity between the beneficial properties of AA towards the complex pathological onset due to SARS-CoV-2 infection [ 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 ]. In this context, vitamin C seems to act in several ways as a polyfunctional molecule.…”