Some of you guys might have read that certain hospitals are treating their patients with a high dose of vitamin C if tested positive for the coronavirus. There’s also a clinical trial underway in China right now where patients with COVID-19 that develop severe acute respiratory infection will be treated with 12g Vitamin C IV twice a day for 7 days and compare their outcomes with patients that did not receive the Vitamin C.
They hypothesize that Vitamin C is significant to the human body and plays a role in reducing the inflammatory response and preventing the common cold. In addition, a few studies have shown that vitamin C deficiency is related to the increased risk and severity of influenza infections. And the presence of infection may decrease vitamin C concentrations in our body.
So how does Vitamin C help the immune system? When bacteria and viruses center the body, vitamin C helps direct immune cells called neutrophils to the site of infection and defends these cells against free radicals. Our body relies on vitamin C to launch an effective immune response and it’s a water-soluble vitamin that we get through our diet. The best way to meet your daily requirement is to consume vitamin-rich fruits, vegetables and fortified foods. Food high in Vitamin C includes: broccoli, cantaloupe, cauliflower, kale, kiwi, orange juice, papaya, red, green or yellow pepper, sweet potato, strawberries, and tomatoes.
Our current data on Vitamin C is not specific to COVID-19 and additional studies are warranted. It might help to boost your immune system by increasing your Vitamin C intake. Older studies did show that taking Vitamin C does not prevent the flu but it does lessen the duration of your sickness on average by 1 day.