Two researchers said the use of virgin coconut oil (VCO) has yielded “very promising” results in preventing and managing COVID-19 cases.

Ateneo de Manila professor Fabian Dayrit and Equilibrium Integrative Health Clinic Medical Director Dr. Jose Rey Mondejar tested VCO’s effectiveness among COVID-19 patients in Sitio Zapatera, Barangay Luz in Cebu City.

After two weeks of trial, Mondejar said 45 out of the 69 patients tested negative in their Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests. While the other 24 did “not progress to moderate or severe” cases.

Mondejar was tapped by a warden from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) to implement a COVID management program in the facility as well.

When Mondejar started the program for the facility last April 25, he initially recommended an intake of 1 tablespoon of VCO twice a day for three days per person. He then increased the dosage of VCO to three times a day.

“Nagkaroon ng very promising results and success po, (It yielded very promising results and it was a success),” Mondejar told DZMM Teleradyo on Tuesday.

Mondejar noted that the CPDRC has been COVID free for six weeks already.

“Naging preventive siya, but actually it helped in the management ng mga cases sa CPDRC (It was preventive and helped in the management of cases),” Mondejar said.

Mondejar said he is also helping other mild and moderate cases in his clinic.

“Very positive yung results. Within five to seven days, meron na naging negative (The results are very positive. Within five to seven days, there were already patients who tested negative),” Mondejar said.

Dayrit, for his part, said there is already evidence that VCO can help in preventing COVID-19 because it has anti-viral properties.

VCO, according to Dayrit, is extracted from fresh coconut meat. The ADMU professor advised the public to buy VCO products that passed the Philippine National Standard.