No, not even in high doses, according to the first randomized clinical trial to test the two supplements under medical supervision.
In fact, the findings were so unimpressive that the study was discontinued early.
The clinical trial gave high doses of each supplement alone and in combination to one of three groups of 214 adults recovering at home. A fourth group received standard care, such as medications for rest, hydration, and fever reduction, but no supplements.
“High dose zinc gluconate (zinc), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or both supplements did not reduce SARS-CoV-2 symptoms,” according to Dr. Milind Desai, cardiologist from Cleveland Clinic, and a team from Cleveland Clinic.
However, the high doses have caused unpleasant side effects in patients using the supplements.
“More adverse effects (nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps) have been reported in the supplement groups than in the regular care group,” wrote Michos, an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Cainzos-Achirica, an assistant. professor of preventative cardiology at Houston Methodist.
Popular supplements
Many Americans turn to vitamin C and zinc supplements to fight viral colds and flu.
Vitamin C is a recognized antioxidant and plays an important role in supporting the immune system. Although disease has not been shown to occur, other research found Vitamin C can reduce colds by 8% in adults and 14% in children.
Zinc can help a cell’s ability to fight infection, the study said, “although there is evidence that zinc deficiency increases pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduces the production of antibodies.”
More than 40 mg of zinc every day can cause dry mouth, nausea, appetite and diarrhea, and it can have a nasty metallic taste.
Research continues
Scientists continue to investigate the use of vitamins and supplements in the treatment of Covid-19.
Randomized trials are currently underway to see if vitamin D supplements can help – in addition to supporting healthy bone growth, vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties.
Researchers in the US and China use intravenous doses of vitamin C to determine if it can help people with breathing problems that are severe enough to be placed in a ventilator.
And more studies are underway to see if Covid-19 can be prevented by supplements like vitamins C and D and zinc.
Based on this study, the use of vitamin C and zinc to shorten the duration of Covid-19 appears to be useless.
CNN’s Maggie Fox contributed to this story.