When deciding on a subject for this subject’s column it appeared apparent to me to handle some facet of the elephant within the room… Extreme Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or “COVID-19.” There are such a lot of points of the virus ….. which specific facet of the subject ought to I handle? Finally, the virus will solely be fully-controlled when a protected and efficient vaccine is accessible. Consultants say that it will take no less than 12–18 months, which remains to be report time for improvement of a vaccine. Maybe it’s wishful considering on my half however I feel such a vaccine is likely to be out there in lower than one 12 months. For what it’s price, I simply heard an interview the place the topic stated {that a} vaccine could also be out there for first responders by this Autumn….allow us to hope so.
I think about the colleges, personal analysis laboratories and biotech firms working in the direction of conquering this pandemic. It is going to be conquered and in-the-process the superb leaps in information that may come out of it will end in a significantly better understanding of viral infections which can assist stop a catastrophe like this from occurring once more. Within the meantime, as a stopgap measure, a number of therapeutic choices could present no less than non permanent management. Thus far there are not any such confirmed choices for prophylaxis or remedy however there are a quickly rising variety of potential therapies being mentioned, researched and generally touted with little or no scientific rationale. A few of these potential therapies are previous, maybe repurposed prescribed drugs, whereas some are high-tech, trendy biologic brokers that symbolize new approaches to manage viral infections. For instance, one confirmed strategy for treating sure infectious ailments, together with different coronaviruses, is the administration of convalescent plasma, collected from people who’ve recovered from an an infection and are subsequently in a position to make the suitable antibodies that are then collected and given to those that haven’t but been contaminated to supply them with passive immunity.1 It’s hoped that this strategy can be efficient in treating coronavirus because it has been with different infectious ailments. Improvement of monoclonal antibodies particularly engineered to dam the virus are an alternative choice as is the usage of present biologic merchandise already indicated for situations comparable to HIV and varied cancers. It could be fantastic if a number of of those brokers is ready to block the virus to forestall an infection or deal with sick sufferers however one course of remedy from a few of these biologicals could have a price ticket of many 1000’s of {dollars}. This may add numerous {dollars} to the worldwide price ticket that already quantities to trillions of {dollars}. Different potential therapies or adjuncts embrace zinc, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, the efficacy of which has not been confirmed and is much less primarily based on science than it’s on “hunches and feelings” which is clearly not a scientific strategy. Distressingly, to some folks, the usage of specific brokers over others has develop into a partisan subject which I’m having issue comprehending.
All this being stated, I made a decision to deal with a product that has been proposed to forestall or deal with COVID-19 and is certainly already utilized in medical follow. In spite of everything, what’s to not like about this common vitamin, vitamin C? A lot of the readers have a bottle of vitamin C tablets of their medication cupboards. My Mother was a robust believer in the advantages of vitamin C and at all times inspired me to take dietary supplements or devour meals wealthy within the vitamin comparable to orange juice. Another excuse for my choice of this matter is that vitamin C was made well-known by Dr. Linus Pauling who graduated from the college the place I’m on school, Oregon State College. This establishment homes the Linus Pauling institute.
Vitamin C has been studied for a few years and we all know that it is a crucial cofactor concerned within the formation of blood vessels, cartilage, muscle and collagen in bone and is significant for the therapeutic course of. As an anti-oxidant, the vitamin may assist shield cells from injury by chemical free radicals. It’s thought that these chemical substances contribute to coronary heart illness, most cancers and different ailments. Potential helpful results attributed to vitamin C embrace lowering endothelial dysfunction, managing hypertension, lowering heart problems threat, and stopping stroke, sure sorts of most cancers, diabetes, gout and presumably even Alzheimer’s illness. The info on these potential makes use of is usually controversial and/or conflicting and it isn’t completely clear if advantages are no less than partially the results of improved vitamin. Total, common use of vitamin C dietary supplements shortens the period of the frequent chilly however doesn’t cut back the danger of contracting a chilly besides in individuals present process heavy bodily stress (e.g. marathon runners, skiers, or troopers in subarctic situations) the place the incidence of colds is minimize in half. Taking vitamin C dietary supplements as soon as chilly signs have already begun has no confirmed advantages.2 It’s probably that this antiviral impact is why vitamin C has attracted curiosity as a potential remedy of COVID-19.
The really useful every day allowance for vitamin C consumption is 90 mg. for grownup males and 75 mg. for grownup girls with a further every day 35 mg. for people who smoke of both gender.2 The Linus Pauling Institute recommends a every day vitamin C consumption of no less than 400 mg for adults >50 years. Dr. Pauling’s dosing suggestion urged that optimum every day consumption could also be about 2000 mg however he famous that the primary 250 mg is most vital for attaining passable serum ranges.3 Others advocate and are administering dosages which might be a lot increased as mentioned under. Whereas anecdotal experiences in regards to the results of medicines are compelling, and supply what could look like convincing proof {that a} specific treatment or remedy possesses a particular therapeutic or damaging impact, it’s important to not get misled. It is very important re-emphasize that affiliation doesn’t imply causation. Whereas anecdotal proof is tempting to consider and may very well reveal an impact that’s actual, the proof of a drug’s impact is barely achieved by blinded, managed research printed in peer-reviewed scientific journals. A latest scientific article printed in 2019 earlier than the detection of the novel coronavirus presents a meta-analysis of 18 managed medical trials with a complete of greater than 2000 sufferers trying on the impact of vitamin C on size of keep within the hospital intensive care unit and the period of mechanical air flow. Examine outcomes included the next: In 12 of the trials reviewed, size of ICU keep was diminished by 7.8% in sufferers receiving vitamin C. This was extremely statistically important. In six trials the size of ICU keep was diminished by 8.6% following oral administration of vitamin C in doses of 1–3 g/day. In three trials by which sufferers wanted mechanical air flow for over 24 h vitamin C shortened the period of mechanical air flow by 18.2%. All these knowledge had been extremely statistically important.4 This examine didn’t embrace COVID-19 sufferers however the authors urged that the results of vitamin C on ICU sufferers must be investigated in additional element primarily based on examine outcomes and what they confer with because the insignificant price of vitamin C. It could be vital to check this in sufferers with COVID-19 an infection.
In a YouTube video interview, Ron Hunninghake, MD, medical director of the Riordan Clinic, a nutrition-based well being facility in Kansas, said that almost all medical doctors and medical faculties are biased towards dietary medication and that vitamin C is extra prone to be adopted as a element of medical follow that might be known as dietary, integrative, or wholistic medication.5 Hunninghake refers the viewer to a latest examine printed in JAMA that confirmed that intravenous administration of 1.5 GM vitamin C each 6 hours considerably decreased mortality fee of septic sufferers with acute respiratory misery syndrome by 30%.6 Dr. Hunninghake experiences administering intravenous vitamin C to 250,000 sufferers over his 31 years of follow and describes vitamin C as “The paramount rescue molecule in nature.” His present protocol is to manage 7.5 g of vitamin C in 50 cc of fluid over 3–5 min and that sufferers tolerate this remedy very effectively together with just about no improvement of kidney stones. A minimum of some hospital programs have adopted administration of vitamin C in sufferers contaminated with COVID-19. A NY newspaper experiences that significantly sick sufferers in NY Metropolis’s largest hospital system are being given vitamin C. A pulmonologist and significant care specialist Dr. Andrew G. Weber stated that his intensive-care sufferers with the coronavirus instantly obtain 1500 mg of vitamin C, administered intravenously, with that dose repeated three or 4 instances a day. Dr. Weber said, “The patients who received vitamin C did significantly better than those who did not get vitamin C.” Since vitamin C ranges within the physique of coronavirus sufferers drops dramatically when sepsis develops, Dr. Weber provides “It makes all the sense in the world to try to maintain vitamin C levels in the body.” Additional remark from a spokesperson from Northwell which operates 23 NY hospitals said that vitamin C was being “widely used” all through the system with protocols various in line with the clinician’s orders.7 To conclusively decide whether or not vitamin C remedy is helpful for remedy of COVID-19 a double-blind placebo-controlled examine is required. Certainly, such a examine has been designed and recruitment of topics started on February 14, 2020.8 Examine design requires intravenous administration of both 12 g of vitamin C or placebo to sufferers with extreme pneumonia on account of COVID-19 an infection twice a day for 7 days. The examine is projected to be accomplished by September 30, 2020 so, within the not-too-distant future, we must always know whether or not this intensive high-dose vitamin C remedy is efficient in treating COVID-19. In fact, query will nonetheless stay re: whether or not extra frequent intravenous dosing is efficient or whether or not oral vitamin C must be given as a safety measure for COVID-19 an infection and, in that case, what dose must be used. Till then, particular person shoppers must make their very own selections primarily based on out there knowledge. As with all drugs, a key element of this resolution can be an evaluation of potential threat v. potential profit.
I do know that I’m going to comply with Mother’s recommendation and proceed to take my vitamin C pill on daily basis.
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