Journal
NUTRITION
Volume 79-80, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2020.110948
Keywords
Vitamin C; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; IL-6; drug discovery
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes the potentially fatal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19). Already during the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1, the use of vitamin C was suggested. Many patients with severe COVID-19 have elevated levels of the mediators interleukin-6 and endothelin-1. These mediators may explain the age dependence of COVID-19 pneumonia, the preponderance of male and obese or hypertensive patients, as well as of persons of color and smokers. There is clear evidence that vitamin C in high doses can reduce these mediators. Vitamin C is cheap and safe. Hence, using a relatively low dose of vitamin C as prophylaxis, and in cases of severe COVID-19, an (intravenous) high-dose regimen may be beneficial. Ongoing clinical trials are expected to provide more definitive evidence. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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