Pulmonary and critical care specialist Mike Hansen, MD, made pandemic videos that dispel misinformation around the coronavirus, provide information on how medical professionals are dealing with COVID cases, and clarify best practices when it comes to protecting ourselves and others.
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In his most recent post, he addresses new research on vitamin C and zinc as potential tools to help protect our immune system against COVID.
Vitamin C and zinc supplements are often home remedies for the common cold, and Hansen says there are some limited evidence to support the theory that these supplements can help reduce the duration and severity of cold symptoms, if taken immediately.
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When it comes to COVID, he explains that there are precedents to suggest that zinc can inhibit the enzyme that allows the virus to replicate its RNA and that vitamin C can decrease susceptibility to respiratory infections. However, he adds that the most recent study was carried out only with patients with mild to moderate disease, not with people who were hospitalized due to their symptoms, and therefore their effectiveness in cases of serious illness is not yet known.
“Currently, there are studies being done in China and the United States that are looking at the potential role of intravenous vitamin C in reducing the need for ventilation in patients with COVID-19,” he says. “In addition, vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D are being researched for the prevention of COVID.”
In addition, Hansen says the supplement doses used in the study can also cause a number of side effects.
“If zinc is taken in high doses, especially more than 40 mg per day, it can cause dry mouth, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and long-term users can develop low levels of copper, decreased immunity and less” he says. “Taking more than 2,000 mg of vitamin C a day can cause heartburn, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and headaches.
The ideal daily dose, he adds, is 90 mg for men and 75 mg for women.
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