Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) as a Potential Adjuvant Therapy in COVID-19 Patients

Pilot Trial for the Benefit of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) as a Potential Adjuvant Therapy in COVID-19 Patients

Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) contains multiple compounds which have antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties. The role of VCO as an antivirus to treat COVID-19 requires further studies. A previous study has investigated the used of 30 ml of VCO to healthy volunteers for a month and reported no side effect. Here the investigators conduct a pilot trial to investigate the effect of VCO towards the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients in Indonesia.

The subjects of this pilot study are patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Central Public Hospital Dr. Sardjito, Teaching Hospital of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and Yogyakarta COVID-19 referral hospitals (RSUD Wonosari and Sleman). The COVID-19 patients are recruited according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, then divided randomly into two groups. Group I, the intervention group, consists of COVID-19 patients receiving standard therapy and 15 mL of VCO twice a day for 14 days. Group II, the control group, consists of COVID-19 patients receiving standard therapy and 15 mL of placebo twice a day for 14 days. Both groups are monitored for four weeks with a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) swab test.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients, age ≥ 18 years old.
• COVID-19 patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal PCR swab specimens that are treated in Central Public Hospital Dr. Sardjito, Teaching Hospital of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and Yogyakarta COVID-19 referral hospitals.
• Patients with mild and moderate pneumonia symptoms that are treated in Central Public Hospital Dr. Sardjito, Teaching Hospital of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and Yogyakarta COVID-19 referral hospitals.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with liver function disorder.
• VCO hypersensitivity.
• Patients with severe pneumonia and/or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
• Pregnant patients.
• Patients with malignant comorbidity.
• Critical or unconscious patients.
• Patients using other immunomodulators similar to VCO within less than three days before VCO administration.