Zinc and vitamin C have many health benefits, but not for reducing symptoms of Covid-19.
- Even at high doses, zinc and vitamin C do not reduce the severity or duration of symptoms of Covid-19 compared to usual care given to patients with coronavirus.
- Zinc and vitamin C are over-the-counter and commonly recommended by pharmacists for viral illnesses
According to new research published in JAMAzinc and vitamin C do not reduce the symptoms of Covid-19.
Over-the-counter zinc and vitamin C
Zinc gluconate and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) are over-the-counter and commonly recommended by pharmacists to treat viral illnesses. “Zinc is thought to increase the ability of polymorphonuclear cells to fight infection, and ascorbic acid is an antioxidant that may play a role in the immune response,” explain the authors of the study in the preamble.
Based on these assumptions, they wanted to assess whether zinc, vitamin C or a combination of the two substances reduced the severity or duration of symptoms of Covid-19 compared to the usual care provided to patients with coronavirus.
Stick to medical prescriptions
The trial was conducted from April 27, 2020 to October 14, 2020. The 214 patients participating in the intervention were randomized to receive either zinc gluconate (50 mg) or vitamin C (8000 mg) for 10 days. , either a combination of the two agents, or conventional care. The primary endpoint was the number of days needed to achieve a 50% reduction in 4 symptoms of Covid-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue).
Conclusion: “Treatment with a high dose of zinc gluconate, vitamin C, or a combination of the two supplements did not significantly reduce the duration of Covid-19 symptoms,” write the authors of the study. In other words, these two supplements should not be taken without medical prescription, even in times of health crisis.
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