Condition
COVID-19
COVID-19 is an illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, ranging from no symptoms to fever, cough and fatigue, and in some people severe lung illness with pneumonia and blood clots. Vitamin D is the most studied supplement for it, yet the one study reviewed found no clear difference in deaths from any cause. That evidence is very limited, and vitamin C, zinc and quercetin have only limited research behind them so far.
Sources: PMID 21735411
- Supplements studied
- 3
- Graded outcomes
- 1
- Trials
- 6
- People studied
- 10,432
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-Cause Mortality No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 5,806 people | |||
Studies that measured all-cause mortality | ||||||
| COVID-19 Severity | Improves (the measure goes down) | 3 studies | 385 people | |||
Studies that measured covid-19 severity
| ||||||
| Length of hospitalization | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2 studies | 944 people | |||
Studies that measured length of hospitalization | ||||||
| Need for mechanical ventilation | Changes; see studies | 2 studies | 2,435 people | |||
Studies that measured need for mechanical ventilation
| ||||||
| C-Reactive Protein (CRP) | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1,492 people | ||||
| Ferritin | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1,492 people | ||||
| Hemoglobin | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1,492 people | ||||
| intensive care unit admission risk | Changes; see studies | 4,936 people | ||||
| intubation risk | Changes; see studies | 4,936 people | ||||
| Lymphocyte Count | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1,492 people | ||||
| Neutrophil Count | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1,492 people | ||||
| Serum Platelets | Improves (the measure goes up) | 447 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 Severity | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2 studies | 274 people | |||
Studies that measured covid-19 severity
| ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 Severity | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 40 people | |||
Studies that measured covid-19 severity | ||||||
Key findings
- All-Cause Mortality
The COVID-19 Prevention and Supportive Care protocol
2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for COVID-19. If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.
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Studies cited
100 studies from PubMed
- Effect of curcumin on inflammatory markers and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A meta-analysis.
- Effect of vitamin D supplementation for major adverse cardiovascular events: a meta-analysis based on randomised controlled trials.
- The Effect of Antioxidant Polyphenol Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- The Effectiveness of Curcumin, Resveratrol, and Silymarin on MASLD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Optimal Vitamin D Status: Evidence and Guidelines
- Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention: A Comprehensive Review
- Curcumin alleviates postprandial glycaemic response in healthy subjects: A cross-over, randomized controlled study
- Substantial Variability Across Individuals in the Vascular and Nutrigenomic Response to an Acute Intake of Curcumin: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Musculoskeletal Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Vitamin D and Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Vitamin D and Immune Function: A Review
- Vitamin D Supplementation for Prevention of Mortality: A Meta-Analysis
- Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy: Safety and Efficacy Review
- Curcumin supplementation improves vascular endothelial function in healthy middle-aged and older adults by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress
- Vitamin D Supplementation: A Comprehensive Review of Efficacy for Various Health Outcomes
- Vitamin D Deficiency: Global Health Perspective
- Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Evidence
- Vitamin D and Bone Health in Adults: A Systematic Review
- Novel Form of Curcumin Improves Endothelial Function in Young, Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Study
- Vitamin D3 supplementation does not modify cardiovascular risk profile of adults with inadequate vitamin D status
- Effect of different curcuminoid supplement dosages on total in vivo antioxidant capacity and cholesterol levels of healthy human subjects
- Effects of Curcuma longa (turmeric) on postprandial plasma glucose and insulin in healthy subjects
- Combined inhibitory effects of soy isoflavones and curcumin on the production of prostate-specific antigen
- Association of A1C levels with vitamin D status in U.S. adults: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
- Effect of NCB-02, atorvastatin and placebo on endothelial function, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, 8-week study
- Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, ethnicity, and blood pressure in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
- Chili, but not turmeric, inhibits iron absorption in young women from an iron-fortified composite meal
- Influence of vitamin C supplementation on oxidative and immune changes after an ultramarathon
- Efficacy of Curcuma longa in relieving pain symptoms of knee osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.
- Curcuma longa extract reduces inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in osteoarthritis of knee: a four-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
- Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- Short-term effects of highly-bioavailable curcumin for treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study
- Safety and efficacy of curcumin versus diclofenac in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized open-label parallel-arm study
- Curcuminoid treatment for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
- Safety and efficacy of Curcuma longa extract in the treatment of painful knee osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial
- Efficacy and safety of Meriva®, a curcumin-phosphatidylcholine complex, during extended administration in osteoarthritis patients
- Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts compared with ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a multicenter study
- Product-evaluation registry of Meriva®, a curcumin-phosphatidylcholine complex, for the complementary management of osteoarthritis
- The efficacy of Curcuma Longa L. extract as an adjuvant therapy in primary knee osteoarthritis: a randomized control trial
- A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Parallel-Group Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Curene® versus Placebo in Reducing Symptoms of Knee OA
- Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts in patients with knee osteoarthritis
- Efficacy and safety of curcumin therapy for knee osteoarthritis: A Bayesian network meta-analysis.
- Effect of turmeric products on knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
- Effects of curcumin on serum inflammatory biomarkers in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Curcumin Lowers Serum Lipids and Uric Acid in Subjects With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- The effects of curcumin supplementation on liver enzymes, lipid profile, glucose homeostasis, and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Curcumin: A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial
- Nano-curcumin improves glucose indices, lipids, inflammation, and Nesfatin in overweight and obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Curcumin as adjuvant treatment in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Turmeric Supplementation Improves Serum Glucose Indices and Leptin Levels in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases
- Does Turmeric/curcumin Supplementation Change Anthropometric Indices in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Highly bioavailable micellar curcuminoids accumulate in blood, are safe and do not reduce blood lipids and inflammation markers in moderately hyperlipidemic individuals
- Efficacy of Turmeric as Adjuvant Therapy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
- Effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on lipid profile: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Bread enriched with phytosterols with or without curcumin modulates lipoprotein profiles in hypercholesterolaemic individuals. A randomised controlled trial
- The Effect of Curcumin on some of Traditional and Non-traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Pilot Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial
- Effect of Curcumin on Serum Urate in Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Effect of turmeric on glycemic status, lipid profile, hs-CRP, and total antioxidant capacity in hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
- Effects of phytosomal curcumin on anthropometric parameters, insulin resistance, cortisolemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease indices: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Highly absorptive curcumin reduces serum atherosclerotic low-density lipoprotein levels in patients with mild COPD
- Curcumin potentiates cholesterol-lowering effects of phytosterols in hypercholesterolaemic individuals. A randomised controlled trial
- Curcuminoids modify lipid profile in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial
- Diverse effects of a low dose supplement of lipidated curcumin in healthy middle aged people
- Effects of supplementation with curcuminoids on dyslipidemia in obese patients: a randomized crossover trial
- Curcumin effects on blood lipid profile in a 6-month human study
- The effect of nano-curcumin on HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile in diabetic subjects: a randomized clinical trial
- Effects of Curcuminoids Plus Piperine on Glycemic, Hepatic and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Curcumin attenuates urinary excretion of albumin in type II diabetic patients with enhancing nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) system and repressing inflammatory signaling efficacies
- The effects of curcumin supplementation on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, serum adiponectin, and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Reduction of atherogenic risk in patients with type 2 diabetes by curcuminoid extract: a randomized controlled trial
- Curcuminoids exert glucose-lowering effect in type 2 diabetes by decreasing serum free fatty acids: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Nano curcumin supplementation reduced the severity of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized double-blind placebo- controlled clinical trial
- Curcumin extract for prevention of type 2 diabetes
- The effect of turmeric/curcumin supplementation on anthropometric indices in subjects with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- The effects of curcumin-containing supplements on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Curcumin on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 103 Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Effects of Curcumin on Postmenopausal Women's Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- The effect of curcumin supplementation on weight loss and anthropometric indices: an umbrella review and updated meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.
- Curcumin ingestion and exercise training improve vascular endothelial function in postmenopausal women
- Effect of endurance exercise training and curcumin intake on central arterial hemodynamics in postmenopausal women: pilot study
- Curcumin for depression: a meta-analysis
- Efficacy of curcumin, and a saffron/curcumin combination for the treatment of major depression: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- Curcumin for the treatment of major depression: a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study
- Chronic Supplementation of Curcumin Enhances the Efficacy of Antidepressants in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study
- Curcumin as an add-on to antidepressive treatment: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot clinical study
- Add-on Treatment with Curcumin Has Antidepressive Effects in Thai Patients with Major Depression: Results of a Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study
- Influence of red pepper spice and turmeric on inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers in overweight females: a metabolomics approach
- The effectiveness of fermented turmeric powder in subjects with elevated alanine transaminase levels: a randomised controlled study
- Effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on liver function in adults: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Curcumin attenuates severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- The Effects of Curcumin on Weight Loss Among Patients With Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Clinical efficacy of the co-administration of Turmeric and Black seeds (Kalongi) in metabolic syndrome - a double blind randomized controlled trial - TAK-MetS trial
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcuminoid-piperine combination in subjects with metabolic syndrome: A randomized controlled trial and an updated meta-analysis
- Effects of Nanocurcumin Supplementation on Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Lipid-modifying effects of adjunctive therapy with curcuminoids-piperine combination in patients with metabolic syndrome: results of a randomized controlled trial
- A Novel Highly Bioavailable Curcumin Formulation Improves Symptoms and Diagnostic Indicators in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Two-Dose, Three-Arm, and Parallel-Group Study
- A randomized, pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of curcumin in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis
- Influence of enhanced bioavailable curcumin on obesity-associated cardiovascular disease risk factors and arterial function: A double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial
- An investigation of the effects of curcumin on anxiety and depression in obese individuals: A randomized controlled trial