Repositioning Vitamin C as a Promising Option to Alleviate Complications associated with COVID-19
- Author:
Mithila FARJANA
1
;
Akhi MONI
;
Abdullah Al MAMUN SOHAG
;
Adeba HASAN
;
Abdul HANNAN
;
Golzar HOSSAIN
;
Jamal UDDIN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review Article
- From:Infection and Chemotherapy 2020;52(4):461-477
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is an essential vitamin with pleiotropic functions, ranging from antioxidant to anti-microbial functions. Evidence suggests that vitamin C acts against inflammation, oxidative stress, autophagy chaos, and immune dysfunction. The ability to activate and enhance the immune system makes this versatile vitamin a prospective therapeutic agent amid the current situation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Being highly effective against the influenza virus, causing the common cold, vitamin C may also function against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and its associated complications. Severe infections need higher doses of the vitamin to compensate for the augmented inflammatory response and metabolic demand that commonly occur during COVID-19. Compelling evidence also suggests that a high dose of vitamin C (1.5 g/kg body weight) in inflammatory conditions can result in effective clinical outcomes and thus can be employed to combat COVID-19. However, further studies are crucial to delineate the mechanism underlying the action of vitamin C against COVID-19. The current review aims to reposition vitamin C as an alternative approach for alleviating COVID-19-associated complications.
