Reviews Open access

Role of high dose IV vitamin C and zinc in coronavirus

Authors

Published
19 February 2021
Section
Reviews
DOI
10.4081/gc.2021.9338

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome- related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2), is now considered as an ongoing global pandemic. Common symptoms include pyrexia, cough, dyspnea, fatigue, sore throat, and loss of sense of taste and smell. Complications that can result from more severe insult on lung tissue is pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which can further lead to septic shock. It is also not uncommon to find neurological symptoms in patients suffering from COVID-19. The primary treatment for COVID-19 is symptomatic treatment and supportive care. As there is no known vaccination and antiviral therapy for this disease, there is a desperate need to find an alternative to control and stop the spread of disease. Maintaining adequate micronutrient balance might enhance the immunity and protect from viral infections as well. Vitamin C and zinc helps in improving symptoms and shortening the duration of the common cold. Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) possesses pleiotropic physiological activity. High dose Vitamin C has shown to be effective against the common flu, rhinovirus, avian virus, chikungunya, Zika, ARDS, and influenza, and there is evidence that supports the protective effect of high dose IV vitamin C during sepsis-induced ARDS due to COVID-19. Zinc has a profound impact on the replication of viruses. Increasing intracellular zinc concentration along with pyrithione (zinc ionophore) has been shown to impair the replication of several RNA viruses efficiently, including poliovirus, influenza virus and several picornaviruses. A combination of zinc and can also inhibit the replication of SARS-coronavirus in cell culture.

Keywords

References

  1. Haq FU, Roman M, Ahmad K, et al. Artemisia annua: trials are needed for COVID‐19. Phytother Res 2020 [Epub ahead of print].
  2. Haq FU, Khan MU, Muazzam A, et al. Interferon-β: treatment option against COVID-19. Geriatric Care 2020 [Epub ahead of print].
  3. Khan MU, Muazzam A, Farooq H, et al. Interferon-β: treatment option against COVID-19. Geriatric Care 2020;6:9093.
  4. Wimalawansa SJ. Global epidemic of coronavirus - COVID-19: what can we do to minimize risks. Eur J Biomed 2020;7:432-8.
  5. Kakodkar P, Kaka N, Baig M. A comprehensive literature review on the clinical presentation, and management of the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Cureus 2020;12:4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7560
  6. World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease (‎‎COVID-19)‎‎: situation report, 150; 2020. Retrieved on 20 June 2020. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situationreports
  7. Sargsyan K, Chen T, Grauffel C, Lim C. Targeting 2019 novel coronavirus with clinically safe Zn-ejector drugs. Preprints 2020 [Epub ahead of print].
  8. Coleman CM, Frieman MB. Coronaviruses: important emerging human pathogens. J Virol 2014;88:5209-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.03488-13
  9. Romero-Sánchez CM, Díaz-Maroto I, Fernández-Díaz E, et al. Neurologic manifestations in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: The ALBACOVID registry. Neurology 2020 [Epub ahead of print]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000009937
  10. Wu Y, Xu X, Chen Z, et al. Nervous system involvement after infection with COVID-19 and other coronaviruses. Brain Behav Immun 2020 [Epub ahead of print]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.03.031
  11. Ye M, Ren Y, Lv T. Encephalitis as a clinical manifestation of COVID-19. Brain Behav Immun 2020 [Epub ahead of print]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.017
  12. Zhang L, Liu Y. Potential interventions for novel coronavirus in China: a systemic review. J Med Virol 2020 [Epub ahead of print].
  13. Colunga Biancatelli RML, Berrill M, Marik PE. The antiviral properties of vitamin C. New York: Taylor & Francis; 2020.
  14. Erol A. High-dose intravenous vitamin C treatment for COVID-19. Preprints 2020 [Epub ahead of print]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/p7ex8
  15. Wintergerst ES, Maggini S, Hornig DH. Immune-enhancing role of vitamin C and zinc and effect on clinical conditions. Ann Nutr Metab 2006;50:85-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000090495
  16. Ewer T, Lewis G. Intravenous vitamin C and the treatment of infections. J Austral Coll Nutr Environ Med 2011;30:8.
  17. Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and immune function. Nutrients 2017;9:1211. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111211
  18. Englard S, Seifter S. The biochemical functions of ascorbic acid. Annu Rev Nutr 1986;6:365-406. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.nu.06.070186.002053
  19. Mandl J, Szarka A, Banhegyi G. Vitamin C: update on physiology and pharmacology. Br J Pharmacol 2009;157:1097-110. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2009.00282.x
  20. Zhang L, Liu Y. Potential interventions for novel coronavirus in China: A systematic review. J Med Virol 2020;92:479-90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25707
  21. Mikirova NA, Hunninghake R. Effect of high dose vitamin C on Epstein-Barr viral infection. Med Sci Monitor 2014;20:725. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12659/MSM.890423
  22. Biancatelli RC, Berrill M, Marik PE. The antiviral properties of vitamin C. Exp Rev Anti-Infect Ther 2020;18:99-101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14787210.2020.1706483
  23. Kim G-N, Yoo W-S, Park M-H, et al. Clinical features of herpes simplex keratitis in a Korean tertiary referral center: efficacy of oral antiviral and ascorbic acid on recurrence. Korean J Ophthalmol 2018;32:353-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2017.0131
  24. Byun SH, Jeon Y. Administration of vitamin C in a patient with herpes zoster-a case report. Korean J Pain 2011;24:108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2011.24.2.108
  25. Read SA, Obeid S, Ahlenstiel C, Ahlenstiel G. The role of zinc in antiviral immunity. Adv Nutr 2019;10:696-710. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmz013
  26. Kaushik N, Subramani C, Anang S, et al. Zinc salts block hepatitis E virus replication by inhibiting the activity of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. J Virol 2017;91:21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00754-17
  27. Mousa HA-L. Prevention and treatment of influenza, influenza-like illness, and common cold by herbal, complementary, and natural therapies. J Evid-Based Complement Alternat Med 2017;22:166-74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587216641831
  28. Singh M, Das RR. Clinical potential of zinc in prophylaxis of the common cold. Exp Rev Respir Med 2011;5:301-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1586/ers.11.29
  29. Qiu M, Chen Y, Chu Y, et al. Zinc ionophores pyrithione inhibits herpes simplex virus replication through interfering with proteasome function and NF-κB activation. Antiviral Res 2013;100:44-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2013.07.001
  30. Rodrigues da Silva M, Schapochnik A, Peres Leal M, et al. Beneficial effects of ascorbic acid to treat lung fibrosis induced by paraquat. PLoS One 2018;13:e0205535. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0205535
  31. Kashiouris MG, L’Heureux M, Cable CA, et al. The emerging role of vitamin C as a treatment for sepsis. Nutrients 2020;12:292. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12020292
  32. Zabetakis I, Lordan R, Norton C, Tsoupras A. COVID-19: the inflammation link and the role of nutrition in potential mitigation. Nutrients 2020;12:1466. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051466
  33. Razzaque M. COVID-19 pandemic: Can maintaining optimal zinc balance enhance host resistance? Preprints 2020 [Epub ahead of print]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202004.0006.v1

Metrics

Citations and online attention from Dimensions, Altmetric and PlumX.

PlumX Metrics

License

PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.