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42 patients enrolled in VCO clinical trials, DOST says


Forty-two patients are currently enrolled in the clinical trials for the virgin coconut oil (VCO), eyed as a possible treatment to COVID-19, the Department of Science and Technology said Saturday.

“Currently, the project team has screened 832 patients wherein 42 were enrolled to the study. Out of the 42 enrollees, 20 patients were under the VCO group while 22 received only the standard care,” the DOST Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) report obtained by GMA News Online indicates. 

Also, the DOST project team said it plans to conduct an interim analysis to serve as a basis for the studies on the mechanism of actions of thee VCO.

Clinical trials, which started in June 2020, are on-going in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

The trials aim to determine the safety of VCO by examining the lipid profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and creatinine of the patients as well as the efficacy of VCO through recovery from symptoms and virus clearance.

Recently, Executive director Jaime Montoya of the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development reminded the public that VCO and melatonin are not yet considered COVID-19 treatments, although they have been approved by regulators.

He explained that VCO has only been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a food supplement or functional food, while melatonin is often used for sleep inducement or as a vitamin.

Last year, the DOST said VCO showed promise against COVID-19 in a study on the antiviral effects of coconut oil compounds. —LBG, GMA News

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