Dietary Supplements for COVID-19

The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine

Status and phase: Terminated; Phase 3

Conditions: Covid19

Treatments: Drug: Vitamin D3 50,000 IU; Other: Microcrystalline Cellulose Capsule; Dietary Supplement: Vitamin K2/D; Dietary Supplement: Vitamin C/Zinc; Other: Medium Chain Triglyceride Oil

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04780061

20210072-01H

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a double blind, placebo controlled, phase III randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of the dietary supplements vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K, and zinc versus placebo on the overall health, symptom severity, and symptom duration of outpatients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2.

Full description

This study proposed is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III randomized controlled trial powered to detect meaningful differences in the overall health and symptom severity of people with COVID-19 between the treatment and control arms. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned, using a web randomization system, in a ratio of 1:1 to one of the following groups: (1) nutrient therapy with vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin K2, and zinc or (2) placebo. Total trial duration will be 12 weeks. Nutrients or placebo will be given for a period of 21 days following enrolment and randomization. Total trial duration will be 12 weeks. Adverse events will be collected during the treatment phase plus one additional week (maximum 4 weeks).

With respect to the primary outcome of participant-reported overall health, power calculations were conducted based on between-group differences at a single time point (21 days) and Cohen's guideline for a small effect size of 0.3. A sample size of 176 (88 per arm) provides 80% power to detect a difference at an α of 0.05. To account for an approximate 10-15% lost to follow-up we will enrol 200 participants (100 per arm).

Enrollment: 90 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Adults (≥18) who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 in an outpatient setting
2. Access to internet

Exclusion criteria

1. Symptom onset greater than 4 days prior to enrolment
2. Supplementing regularly with >500 mg vitamin C, >1000 units vitamin D, >120 mcg vitamin K (any form), or >15 mg zinc taken daily within the past month
3. Currently taking warfarin or an equivalent vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant
4. End stage chronic kidney disease
5. History of calcium oxalate kidney stones
6. Active granulomatosis (sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, lymphoma)
7. Known hypercalcemia or hypervitaminosis D
8. Currently taking either of the following antibiotics: cephalexin, tetracyclines
9. Participating in an investigational study or participation in an investigational study within the past 30 days
10. Any reason which, under the discretion of the qualified investigator or delegate, would preclude the patient from participating.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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90 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Treatment

Experimental group

Description:

Specific Product: Vitamin D3 50,000 IU Formulation: Capsule. Each capsule will contain 500 mg (50,000 units) cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) Dose: One capsule on day 1 of the intervention period Specific Product: Vitamin K2/D Formulation: Liquid. Each 0.0285 mL drop contains 30 mcg menaquinone-7 (MK-7, vitamin K2) and 3.125 mcg (125 units) cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). Dose: 0.114 mL (four drops) twice daily for 21 days totalling 240mcg MK-7 and 1,000 units cholecalciferol per day. Specific Product: Vitamin C/Zinc Formulation: Capsule. Each capsule will contain 666 mg ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and 8.3 mg of zinc acetate Dose: Three capsules three times daily for 21 days totalling 6 g ascorbic acid and 75 mg zinc acetate per day.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Vitamin C/Zinc

Dietary Supplement: Vitamin K2/D

Drug: Vitamin D3 50,000 IU

Control

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Specific Product: Vitamin D3 50,000 IU Placebo Equivalent: microcrystalline cellulose capsule, 350 mg Specific Product: Vitamin K2/D Placebo Equivalent: Medium chain triglyceride oil Specific Product: Vitamin C/Zinc Placebo Equivalent: microcrystalline cellulose capsule, 350 mg

Treatment:

Other: Medium Chain Triglyceride Oil

Other: Microcrystalline Cellulose Capsule