DOST: No established data yet on benefit of VCO to hospitalized COVID patients

MANILA, Philippines — There is no established data yet on the benefit of virgin coconut oil (VCO) to hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Tuesday.

This, as it noted that the difference among hospitalized COVID-19 patients who took VCO and those who did not is “not statistically significant” based on initial results.

“Here in the case of the trials at PGH (Philippine General Hospital), there is no established benefit yet for hospitalized patients. It’s not yet complete,” DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said in an online webinar.

According to him, analysis of the hospital trial results is still ongoing, and that a further study at the molecular level is needed to determine the actual effects of VCO among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

“While there were some interesting or favorable findings to a certain extent because of the relief from symptoms, according to our experts, the difference between the patients who took VCO and those who did not take VCO is not statistically significant, although there is some kind of advantage for those who took the VCO, but the report says it was not statistically significant,” de la Peña added.

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Meanwhile, Jaime Montoya, Executive Director of the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, noted that further study on VCO will look at inflammatory markers.

“Titingnan pa ang iba pang laboratory information katulad ng inflammatory markers para malaman natin ‘yung degree ng inflammation na alam naman natin na isa sa mga mekanismo kung bakit nagkakaroon ng komplikasyon sa COVID-19,” he explained.

(We will look at other laboratory information like inflammatory markers so we can know the degree of inflammation. We know that it is one of the mechanisms that cause COVID-19 complications.)

“’Yun ang ating aantabayanan pa kasi baka may makita tayong nagagawa ang VCO sa larangan ng pagpapababa ng inflammatory markers na ito,” he added.

(That is what we are looking at because we may see effects of the VCO on lowering inflammatory markers.)

Meanwhile, the community trials conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) showed that VCO can be used as adjunct supplement to suspect and probable cases of COVID-19 due to its viral and immunomodulatory properties, according to DOST.

READ: DOST study: Meals with VCO can reduce symptoms for probable, suspect COVID-19 patients

“Base sa pag-aaral na isinagawa ng FNRI, looking at mild cases, ito ay nakatutulong para mapabilis ang pagkawala ng mga sintomas at ito po ay makatutulong, karagdagang maiinom ng ating mga pasyenteng may mild cases of COVID-19 para mapabilis ang kanilang paggaling,” Montoya added.

(Based on the study conducted by the FNRI looking at mild cases, the VCO helped hastening the loss of symptoms and can be an additional supplement for patients with mild cases of COVID-19 so they can recover faster.)

The hospital trials for VCO was conducted among 77 adults with a dosage of 15 millilitres taken three times daily for 14 days, while the community trials was conducted among 57 adults with dosage based on their weight and taken for 28 days.

On clinical trials for lagundi, de la Peña said the DOST found promising results on its effects in decreasing symptoms for mild COVID disease, especially for loss of sense of smell, and overall relief of discomfort due to other symptoms.