Vitamin C, Zinc Don’t Lessen COVID-19 Symptoms, Researchers Say

• A new study says that taking vitamin C and/or zinc doesn’t lessen the symptoms of COVID-19.
• Experts say there are no known effective therapies for at-home treatment of COVID-19 yet.
• However, they hope new research can lead to some home-based remedies in the near future.

When it comes to fighting COVID-19 at home, high doses of vitamin C and zinc don’t appear to lessen symptoms or shorten the duration of the illness.

A study looking to see how those suggested remedies work was cut short after no noticeable improvements were observed in the participants.

The study, led by a team from the Cleveland Clinic, asked if high-dose zinc, high-dose ascorbic acid, and/or a combination of the two reduce the duration of COVID-19 symptoms.

“Treatment with zinc, ascorbic acid, or both does not affect SARS-CoV-2 symptoms,” the study found.

Dr. Suma Thomas, a co-principal in the study and a specialist in cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, said the researchers explored the question both because of the long history of people claiming to fight colds with these supplements as well as to contribute to the process of finding at-home solutions to battling COVID-19.

“I’ve been fascinated by it for years,” Thomas told Healthline. “This is a great time to study it.”

Despite the results, she said, the study serves a purpose: Those who may be fighting COVID-19 at home won’t assume the supplements are a solution.

“These are very commonly taken,” Thomas said. “A lot of people have been spending money on these things, and they may not do [much to help]. Everywhere, everyone has been talking about vitamin C and zinc.”

Now, she said, they’ll know that it doesn’t affect the duration or severity of COVID-19.

“It’s good to look at the data like this,” she said. “People can now weigh the cost and possible side effects with the results and make an informed decision.”