Ma. Kyla Maru A. Magcamit

For pubmat The results of the DOST PCHRD-funded study, “Virgin coconut oil is effective in lowering C-reactive protein levels among suspect and probable cases of COVID-19” is accessible at bit.ly/VCOforCOVID_elsevier However, researchers still recommend pushing for more clinical trials to further assess the extent of VCO’s effects in COVID-19 cases and its possible risks. For caption 𝗗𝗢𝗦𝗧-𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘁 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗-𝟭𝟵 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 A recent study funded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST PCHRD), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and DOST CALABARZON and conducted in two isolation facilities in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna revealed that virgin coconut oil (VCO) could lower C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels among suspect and probable cases of COVID-19. CRP is a protein synthesized by the liver whose levels rise in response to inflammation, making it a useful biochemical marker in diagnosing and monitoring different diseases. It is often associated with bacterial infections and can also elevate infections caused by other types of pathogens or disease-causing microorganisms such as viruses. In COVID-19 cases, CRP levels have been found to increase significantly according to the severity of the infection. This rise is expected as the infection causes an overproduction of immune cells called a “cytokine storm,” ultimately leading to fluid buildup and inflammation in the lungs and respiratory distress. In the study, VCO was administered to the participants through their prepared meals. The dosage given was aligned with the patient’s body weight and the acceptable amount of VCO intake per day. Days 1-3 used 0.6mL of VCO per kilogram (kg) body weight (BW) mixed with the patients’ breakfast, which was increased to 1.2mL/kg BW mixed with all the meals for the day for Days 4-28. Results showed that CRP levels of patients with VCO intake reduced significantly compared to the control group or those who didn’t take VCO in the span of the 28-day experimentation. This effect may be attributed not only to the anti-inflammatory abilities of VCO but also to the capacity of its components to disrupt the cellular functions of certain pathogens, as found in some studies. With ongoing drug research initiatives that aim to repurpose or combine existing medications to treat, manage, or prevent COVID-19 infection, the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of VCO were brought into the limelight as a possible remedy to control inflammation in COVID-19 patients. However, it is important to note that it can also increase cholesterol levels which were also observed in the study, although the obtained values still fell within the normal range. There is untapped potential with VCO as a possible alternative medication that helps regulate the immune system in place of antibiotics. However, there is no official advisory from the Department of Health (DOH) about its public use against COVID-19. DOH advises against self-medicating with VCO as there is still a need to gather more data to confirm the extent of its benefits for COVID-19 patients and the possible risks that come with its use. Kyla Maru Magcamit References: Ali, N. (2020). Elevated level of C‐reactive protein may be an early marker to predict risk for severity of COVID‐19. Journal of Medical Virology, 92(11),-. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.26097 Angeles-Agdeppa, I., Nacis, J. S., Capanzana, M. V., Dayrit, F. M., & Tanda, K. V. (2021). Virgin coconut oil is effective in lowering C-reactive protein levels among suspect and probable cases of COVID-19. Journal of Functional Foods, 83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff- Nehring, S. M. (2021, May 10). C Reactive Protein. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441843/.