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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Jan 23:13:e5.
doi: 10.1017/jns.2023.118. eCollection 2024.

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) supplementation relieves symptoms and inflammation among COVID-19 positive adults: a single-blind randomized trial

Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa  1 , Jacus S Nacis  1 , Fabian M Dayrit  2 , Keith V Tanda  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) supplementation relieves symptoms and inflammation among COVID-19 positive adults: a single-blind randomized trial

Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa et al. J Nutr Sci. .

Abstract

A clinical study conducted in 2020 showed that virgin coconut oil (VCO) has been found effective in the rapid relief of COVID-19 symptoms and normalization of the C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration among probable and suspected cases of COVID-19. This present study aimed to validate those results and to evaluate the effects of VCO among COVID-19 patients through a 28-day randomized, single-blind trial conducted among 76 SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain report)-confirmed adults, with VCO given as a COVID-19 adjunct therapy. The results showed that VCO recipients were free from symptoms and had normal CRP concentrations by day 14. In comparison, participants in the control group reported relief from signs and symptoms on day 23, with normal CRP concentrations on day 25. This second study bolsters the use of VCO as an effective adjunct therapy for COVID-19-positive patients showing mild-to-moderate symptoms.

Keywords: C-reactive protein (CRP); COVID-19; Symptomatic relief; Virgin coconut oil (VCO).

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Trial flow diagram. The diagram shows the study’s trial flow and participant allocation and withdrawal.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Percentage of participants with diminishing symptoms per group per day. Demonstrates the comparison of signs and symptoms diminishment among VCO and control group.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Percentage of recovery from COVID-19 using Kaplan–Meier estimate by VCO and control group. Kaplan–Meier analysis between VCO and control group based on patient recovery.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Percentage of medication and supplement intake of participants per group. Demonstrates the percentage of medication and supplement intake per group of participants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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