Mega-dose Vitamin C for COVID-19

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There is some exciting and promising news coming out of China regarding a very viable treatment to help lessen the severity (and likely save many lives) of the symptoms of the COVID-19 virus. Understanding that one of the most serious effects of the COVID virus is the “cytokine storm” it creates in the body, researchers have been looking for ways to counter this life-threatening symptom. This cascade of inflammatory cytokines is what leads to the viral pneumonia that compromises the airway and necessitates ventilation.  Back in February Chinese research teams began to test intravenous Vitamin C for this purpose. 

A medical team from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University in China has reported the successful treatment of coronavirus patients with vitamin C. In a press release posted on the hospital website, the team describes how patients suffering from severe coronary pneumonia, a potentially fatal complication of the new coronavirus COVID-19, have recovered after being treated with high doses of the vitamin. The medical team recommend that for critically ill patients and those with severe neonatal pneumonia, vitamin C treatment should be initiated as soon as possible after admission to hospital.

(the statement above in bold is from this website https://www.dr-rath-foundation.org/2020/03/chinese-medical-team-report-successful-treatment-of-coronavirus-patients-with-high-dose-vitamin-c/The article is worth the read if you want additional info)

I tracked down the research study to which this article refers. It is an ongoing trial, but preliminary results look VERY promising. In response to these preliminary results the Shanghai Medical Association (SMA) in China has published a consensus on the comprehensive treatment of coronavirus disease. Based on the study of more than 300 clinical patients and developed by 30 experts in the treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia, it recommends high-dose vitamin C for even light infection with the virus.

The dose recommended in the consensus is 50 to 100 mg per kilogram of bodyweight per day (orally). For severe and critically ill patients, up to 200 mg per kilogram of bodyweight per day is advised, injected intravenously. 

You can translate the above recommendations by simply dividing your body weight in pounds by 2.2, then multiplying that number by the mg amounts mention above. 

But, I will offer simplified recommendations below. 

There are really two different recommendations here. 

First, for anyone presenting with early, mild signs of infection begin taking high doses of oral Vitamin C. I’ll give dose reccos below.

Second, for anyone who is experiencing severe symptoms you really need to increase the level of Vitamin C in your system beyond what is manageable orally, thus you need to seek out somewhere to get an IV infusion. I’m looking into whether hospitals stock Vitamin C IV solutions for use, but I am doubtful that they do. However, there are private intravenous vitamin infusion clinics scattered throughout the country. If you simply google ‘intravenous vitamin C’ in your town something will likely pop up. If they are open or not will be another issue. But worth a call to find out in case you need them down the road. 

My recommendations based upon the research that has been done.

(It will be best to use two forms of Vitamin C for oral intake – straight Vitamin C powder + Liposomal Vitamin C in capsules or liquid form. You can read about why I make this recommendation here https://www.dougcookrd.com/vitamin-c-supplement/)

• Everyone: Begin taking oral Vitamin C as follows:

1. ½ tsp (2,000 mg) of powdered vitamin C mixed in any liquid, or in capsule or tablet form, 2x/day between meals...for a total of
   4,000 mg / day.

**This intake of Vitamin C will not necessarily protect you from contracting the virus, but it will preload your body to help manage the cytokine inflammatory response, likely decreasing your symptoms dramatically
 

• Those with mild symptoms: Take oral Vitamin C as follows:

1. 1 tsp (4,000 mg) of powdered vitamin C mixed in any liquid 2x/day between meals.
2. 4,000 mg of Liposomal Vitamin C 3x/day with meals.

If you develop diarrhea due to bowel overload of Vitamin C, cut the above recco in half and work your way back up slowly
 

• Those with severe symptoms and breathing issues:  IV Vitamin C as follows: (this is based on the research protocol being used in China.

1. 12g (12,000 mg) Vitamin C, to be infused twice a day for 7 days by infusion pump with a speed of 12ml/h.

(This is a link to the study protocol for your info [and to present to doctors if necessary to get them to take action] https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04264533)

There is still both powdered and Liposomal Vitamin C available on Amazon. Here are a couple links to the ones I have ordered (just click on the name below).  But any brand will do.

Liposomal Vitamin C

Powdered Vitamin C

Being a Registered Dietitian I have a little clout when it comes to making nutritional recommendations in hospitals, so, if you are in need of IV Vitamin C and are getting push-back from doctors I am more than willing to help navigate that with you. I am working on compiling a solid ‘white paper’ of scientific support to help convince docs that this is a viable and necessary treatment protocol. 

Please feel free to share this with anyone and everyone. If we all get on board here and start using the Vitamin C therapy, it could be a game changer.

In Love and Good Health,

Brett

Hi everyone,

I hope and hold that this email finds you all healthy and making the best of your quarantine time.  We are healthy and holding our own here.

The purpose of this email is to amend my original Vitamin C Therapy recommendation for those who are currently healthy and have NOT contracted the virus.  The recommendations for those who have contracted the virus remain the same and are copied below for your reference.

My recommendation is to decrease the amount I originally suggested…but ONLY for those who are currently healthy. (I have adjusted my recommendations in the original article above to reflect this change)

I am changing my recommendation for those who are healthy and in the “pre-loading” phase of Vitamin C intake for these reasons:

• The available research does not show that taking mega doses of Vitamin C when healthy will decrease your risk of contracting the virus.
  
• Vitamin C has become a bit of a precious commodity and hard to obtain in some cases.  So, it makes more sense to save as much of the Vitamin C that  you have now, and can obtain, for use if you contract the virus, when Vitamin C intake becomes crucial and truly game changing.
  
• Some folks have experienced some issues when ramping up their intake; namely ‘bowel      intolerance’ and in one case a ‘body rash’ that appears to be due to an allergic reaction.
  
• To make it easier to adhere to the intake regimen as prescribed.  
  

Here is a quick explanation of why large doses of Vitamin C can cause bowel issues.  When we take oral doses of pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid) the rate of absorption that takes place in our intestine is inversely related to the amount we take.  In other words, the more vitamin C we take in one dose the lower the percentage of what is absorbed.  For instance, if you take 200 mg in a dose, about 98% will be absorbed.  However, the absorption of a 1,200 mg dose is only about 40%.  So, what happens is the excess vitamin C that is not absorbed makes its way into the colon where it attracts large amounts of water into the colon, thus causing diarrhea.

However, the level of intake that each person can handle is an individual thing.  I take 4,000 mg in one dose and have no issues.  

AND…the Liposomal Vitamin C is different.  Because this Vitamin C is ‘wrapped’ in a fat shell, it is absorbed differently.  Regardless of the amount taken of a Liposomal Vitamin C about 98% will be absorbed.  Thus, it avoids pretty much all the bowel issues.

This being the case, it is possible to take more of the Liposomal C then regular C without bowel issues.  Which means, you are also able to raise your blood levels more effectively.  This is shown in the graph above in the side bar, taken from a study where they tested the same dose of straight Vitamin C (Un-encapsulated) against Liposomal Vitamin C (Encapsulated) for their ability to raise levels of Vitamin C in the blood.

As you can see, the Liposomal Vitamin C is much more efficient of raising blood levels then straight Vitamin C.  This is important because the higher you can get your blood level the more effective the Vitamin C therapy will be in controlling the inflammatory response in your lungs.  This inflammatory response is what actually ends up killing those who die of the COVID-19 infection.  

Here is a good YouTube video explanation of how this inflammation in the lungs happens and why it is life-threatening - https://youtu.be/okg7uq_HrhQ 

The take home message from the above graph is…save your Liposomal Vitamin C for if/when you become ill with the COVID-19 virus.

In Love and Good Health,

Brett