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Vitamin C for the Management of COVID-19: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
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  • Hassaan Abid,
  • Iqra Mushtaq,
  • Amna Bint Munir I,
  • Jaweria Shakil,
  • Saketh Vinjamuri,
  • Niraj Tadasare,
  • Kiran FNU,
  • Agha Muhammad Wali Mirza,
  • Feriha Fatima Khidri,
  • Amna Shahid,
  • Muhammad Ayyan,
  • Muhammad Ehsan,
  • Huzaifa Ahmad Cheema,
  • Abdulqadir Nashwan,
  • Syeda Sahra,
  • Nabeela Iffat Siddiqi
Hassaan Abid
Khyber Medical College
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Iqra Mushtaq
Azad Jammu Kashmir Medical College Muzaffarabad
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Amna Bint Munir I
Boston University
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Jaweria Shakil
Dow University of Health Sciences
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Saketh Vinjamuri
Gandhi Medical College
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Niraj Tadasare
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Ahmedabad
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Kiran FNU
Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College
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Agha Muhammad Wali Mirza
Jinnah Medical and Dental College
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Feriha Fatima Khidri
Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences
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Amna Shahid
Foundation University Medical College
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Muhammad Ayyan
King Edward Medical University
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Muhammad Ehsan
King Edward Medical University
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Huzaifa Ahmad Cheema
King Edward Medical University
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Abdulqadir Nashwan
Hamad Medical Corporation

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Syeda Sahra
Mayo Clinic Minnesota
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Nabeela Iffat Siddiqi
University of Cincinnati Medical Center Health Library
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Abstract

Vitamin C is a vital nutrient that functions as an antioxidant and is important as a co-factor and regulator of several immune system pathways. The role of vitamin C in the treatment of COVID-19 is largely debatable. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin C in the treatment of COVID-19. We searched several electronic databases from inception to March 2023 to retrieve randomized controlled trials on the use of Vitamin C for COVID-19. RevMan 5.4 was used to calculate risk ratios (RRs) and Mean Differences (MDs) along with confidence intervals (95% CI) using a random-effects model. We included 9 randomized controlled trials in our meta-analysis. Vitamin C did not reduce the all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19 compared to the standard treatment [RR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.65-1.14; I 2=66%]. Vitamin C was found to be associated with an increased incidence of ventilation in COVID-19 patients when compared to standard treatment [RR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.18-1.59; I 2=58%]. There were no significant differences between both groups regarding the incidence of hospitalization [RR 1.00, 95% CI: 0.98-1.02; I 2=0%], incidence of recovery [RR 1.57, 95% CI: 0.45-5.50; I 2=52%], hospital mortality [RR 0.68, 95% CI: 0.44-1.06; I 2=0%] and length of hospital stay [MD -0.63, 95% CI: -3.04 to 1.78; I 2=81%]. Vitamin C administration did not reduce all-cause mortality in COVID-19 patients. Additional studies are required to evaluate the role of Vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 especially in ICU patients.