Study strengthens case that vitamins cannot treat COVID-19
Vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc were not found to lessen a patient's chance
of dying from COVID-19

Date:
February 17, 2022
Source:
University of Toledo
Summary:
A meta-analysis of 26 studies that included more than 5,600 patients
hospitalized with COVID-19 has found that taking immune-boosting
micronutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc do not lessen
a patient's chance of dying from COVID-19.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new review of COVID-19 hospitalization data by researchers at The
University of Toledo has found that taking immune-boosting supplements
such as vitamin C , vitamin D and zinc do not lessen your chance of
dying from COVID-19.


========================================================================== Early in the pandemic, healthcare providers tried a variety of
micronutrients as potential therapies for the new illness. More recently, supplements have been promoted by some as an alternative to the safe
and proven vaccines.

However, Dr. Azizullah Beran said there's been little evidence those
strategies work, despite the enduring interest in them.

"A lot of people have this misconception that if you load up on zinc,
vitamin D or vitamin C, it can help the clinical outcome of COVID-19,"
said Beran, an internal medicine resident at The University of Toledo
College of Medicine and Life Sciences. "That hasn't been shown to
be true." Beran is the lead author on a new paper that significantly strengthens the emerging medical consensus that micronutrient supplements
are not an effective treatment for COVID-19.

He and his collaborators reviewed 26 peer-reviewed studies from around the globe that included more than 5,600 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Their analysis found no reduction in mortality for those being treated with
vitamin D, vitamin C or zinc compared to patients who did not receive
one of those three supplements.



========================================================================== Their analysis did find that treatment with vitamin D may be associated
with lower rates of intubation and shorter hospital stays, but the
researchers say more rigorous study is needed to validate that finding.

Vitamin C and zinc were not associated with shorter hospital stays or
lowering the chance a patient would be put on a ventilator.

While the study predominately looked at patients who were already sick
and hospitalized with COVID-19 when given the supplements, researchers
did analyze a smaller subset of individuals who had been taking vitamin
D prior to contracting the virus. They found no significant difference
in the mortality rate of that population either.

The paper is published in the journal Clinical Nutrition ESPEN.

"It's important for people to understand that taking a lot of these
supplements does not translate into better outcomes," said Dr. Ragheb
Assaly, a UToledo professor of medicine and the paper's senior
author. "The other important message is that the answer to this disease
is the vaccine. Micronutrient supplements will not offset the lack of vaccination or make you not need the vaccine." Researchers caution
that the study shouldn't be interpreted as saying vitamin and mineral supplements are bad or should be avoided, but rather make it clear that
they are not effective at preventing COVID-19 deaths.

Beran and Assaly say it's possible that some COVID-19 patients who
are malnourished or otherwise deficient in micronutrients may benefit
from taking supplements, but that's because their bodies already lack
essential nutrients - - not because vitamin D or vitamin C are effective against the virus.

"What we're saying is this: If you don't medically need these supplements, don't take them thinking they're protective against COVID-19," Beran said.

"They're not going to prevent you from getting
it and they're not going to prevent you from dying." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Toledo. Original
written by Tyrel Linkhorn.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Azizullah Beran, Mohammed Mhanna, Omar Srour, Hazem Ayesh, Jamie M.

Stewart, Majdal Hjouj, Waleed Khokher, Asmaa S. Mhanna, Dana
Ghazaleh, Yasmin Khader, Wasef Sayeh, Ragheb Assaly. Clinical
significance of micronutrient supplements in patients with
coronavirus disease 2019: A comprehensive systematic review
and meta-analysis. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 2022; DOI:
10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.12.033 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220217122358.htm

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