By DHEL NAZARIO*
The first clinical trial of the Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) as treatment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has shown promising result as majority of the patients involved in the study in Sta. Rosa Community Hospital have been sent home.
“The fact na karamihan sa kanila ay naiuwi na ay magandang indication pero kahit sila ay nakauwi na, itinutuloy pa rin iyong protocol na sila ay bibigyan pa rin ng VCO,” Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Secretary Fortunato dela Pena said during the Laging Handa press briefing on Tuesday.
He said the patients in Sta. Rosa were given VCO three times a day with meals for 28 days. Their conditions were monitored as they participated up to day 14 and day 28.
The secretary added the trials are still ongoing and they require additional participants to make a good conclusion for the study.
“So siguro ay hintay-hintayin lang natin at para madagdagan iyong ating mga subjects,” he said.
The second trial will be conducted at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) where 50 patients will take VCO as supplement to the daily treatment regimen.
The third trial will be held in Singapore where the study will determine whether certain coconut oil components can diminish or prevent the infectivity of SARS-CoV2, the virus that caused COVID-19.
