Vitamin C’s relationship with COVID-19

Shianna Casey, Reporter

You’ve always been told that it was good for you… It’s Vitamin C. Found in lemons, oranges, and of course the classic Flinstone’s Multivitamin Gummies. But what you probably didn’t know is that high concentrations of the vitamin are contributing to the survival of many infected with COVID-19.

You heard it right. According to The New York Post, medical teams at the Northwell Health Facilities are administering extremely high doses of Vitamin C to those infected with the virus. The clinical trial involves administering about 1,500 milligrams of Vitamin C intravenously 3-4 times each day. To put this into perspective, each dose given is about 16 times the recommended daily dose for the average male (90mg) and female (80mg).

According to Doctor Andrew Weber, a critical-care specialist at Northwell, “The patients who received Vitamin C did significantly better than those who did not get Vitamin C. It helps a tremendous amount, but it is not highlighted because it is not a sexy drug.” In addition to the Vitamin C, the patients are also receiving hydroxychloroquine (anti-malaria drug), azithromycin (antibiotic), other biologics, and various blood thinners.

However this is not the only clinical trial that is being conducted in regards to Vitamin C aiding with the symptoms of COVID-19. At least 3 clinical trials as recently as February 14th have begun in China.

Although it is believed that Vitamin C could never actually cure COVID-19, many clinical studies have shown that it can help shorten time spent on ventilators, and in the ICU by up to 18.2%. A significant amount for those suffering from symptoms. So much is still unknown about the virus, but it’s trials such as these that bring us one step closer to curing the world, and easing the minds of so many.