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

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,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Pharmacological reports Vol. 72; no. 6; p. 1517
Main Authors:	Abobaker, Anis, Alzwi, Aboubaker, Alraied, Alsalheen Hamed A
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Switzerland 01-12-2020
Subjects:	Animals Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage Antiviral Agents - pharmacology Ascorbic Acid - administration & dosage Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology COVID-19 - drug therapy COVID-19 - virology Dietary Supplements Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Humans COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Management Beneficial effects Vitamin C
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Summary:	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.
ISSN:	1734-1140
DOI:	10.1007/s43440-020-00176-1