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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOST invests P8.4M for VCO clinical trials

DOST invests P8.4M for VCO clinical trials

Published Aug 27, 2021 02:13 pm

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has invested P8.4 million to determine the safety and efficacy of virgin coconut oil (VCO) as adjunctive therapy for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients, and to evaluate its beneficial effects for probable COVID-19 patients who are quarantined in a center or hospital.

(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the DOST said its Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) has allocated P8.4 million to explore the use of VCO as “life-saving solution to fight COVID-19.”

Of the amount, P4.8 million was given to the project, “Virgin Coconut Oil as Adjunctive Therapy for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients”.

The project was led by Dr. Marissa M. Alejandria of the University of the Philippines-Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH). It was implemented for 12 months, from June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

“The patient enrolment and intervention were completed. The project team is currently conducting data analysis,” DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development (R&D) Dr. Rowena Cristina Guevara told the Manila Bulletin.

The DOST said the study aims to determine whether or not VCO helps improve the overall health status and recovery of a COVID-19 patient.

The agency also poured in P3.6 million for a project which seeks to evaluate the beneficial effects of VCO among suspect and probable cases of COVID-19.

The randomized double-blind controlled intervention VCO trial is being conducted by DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), led by Director Dr. Imelda Angeles Agdeppa.

The intervention trial was supposed to be implemented on May 1, 2020 to June 31, 2021.

“To date, there are 62 active subjects in Valenzuela City wherein 13 are undergoing intervention, while 49 completed the intervention,” Guevara said.

“For Muntinlupa study site, the project team has one patient for orientation/consent,” she added.

The DOST said the VCO used in the DOST-FNRI’s study was analyzed by the Laboratory Services Division of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

“If the results of this study prove to be successful, VCO can be used as a potential supplement of suspect and probable cases of COVID-19 to prevent the worsening of the condition of the patient,” it said.

The DOST-FNRI conducted last year a VCO trial in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Based on the VCO study in Santa Rosa, Laguna, meals mixed with VCO could reduce COVID-19 symptoms in suspect and probable cases, thus, possibly preventing the progression or severity of the disease.

In December 2020, the FNRI team reported the effectiveness of VCO on 57 probable and suspected cases at the Santa Rosa Community Quarantine Facility and in Santa Rosa Community Hospital.

Results of the FNRI study on VCO as dietary supplement among COVID-19 probable and suspect cases showed that “five of the 29 patients who were served meals with VCO manifested diminishing signs and symptoms as early as the second day, while only one patient served with the same meals but without VCO showed similar improvement.”

The VCO group of patients who were served meals with VCO showed no COVID-19 related symptoms at Day 18, while symptoms persisted in some patients of the Control Group of patients who were served the same meals without VCO until Day 23, it showed.

Related Tags

Virgin coconut oil Department of Science and Technology VCO beneficial effects for probable COVID-19 patients VCO AS ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS VCO CLINICAL TRIALS DOST
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