Adjunctive therapeutic approach, including adequate intake of vitamin C and zinc, could mitigate adverse physiological effects of COVID-19

TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Vitamin C and zinc supplementation could be beneficial for managing COVID-19, according to a meta-analysis recently published in Clinical Nutrition Open Science.

Safieh Firouzi, Ph.D., from the Golestan University of Medical Sciences in Gorgan, Iran, and colleagues examined the potential effectiveness of vitamin C and zinc supplementation during viral infection and specifically COVID-19.

The researchers observed an association between vitamin C and zinc deficiency and a reduction in the innate immune response, which could increase the vulnerability of patients with COVID-19. An adjunctive therapeutic approach, including adequate intake of vitamin C and zinc together with any necessary pharmacological treatments, could mitigate the adverse physiological effects of COVID-19. According to the researchers, the results of ongoing randomized controlled trials are necessary for fully clarifying the role of vitamin C and zinc supplementation in COVID-19 management. To prevent oversupplementation, the toxicity of vitamin C and zinc should be considered; vitamin C oversupplementation can lead to oxalate toxicity, while reduced immune system function can result from increased zinc intake.

"Adequate intake of immune-enhancing nutrients (vitamin C and zinc) in conjunction with pharmacological agents is necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic," the authors write. "To specifically clarify the role of supplementation with vitamin C and zinc in the management of coronavirus we must wait for the completion of the ongoing randomized controlled trials."

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