SynthesisNutrients2020
Could Vitamins Help in the Fight Against COVID-19?
Synthesis in Nutrients, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 104 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
104 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 237 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Association Between Antioxidants and COVID-19 Outcomes: a Systematic Review on Observational Studies.Biological trace element research · 2023Pooled it
- The effect of adherence to high-quality dietary pattern on COVID-19 outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of medical virology · 2023Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Trial
- High-dose vitamin D versus placebo to prevent complications in COVID-19 patients: Multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial.PloS one · 2022Trial
- The Role of Plant-Based Protein Functional Food in Preventing Acute Respiratory Disease: A Case Study.Nutrients · 2021Trial
- Vitamins impacting mental/physical well-being during viral pandemics: a mechanistic review based on COVID-19: a comprehensive review.Inflammopharmacology · 2026Review
- Intestinal permeability and its relation to anthropometric and biochemical variables associated with cardiovascular risk in an elderly population.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- The vitamin C paradigm: new frontiers in blood transfusion.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2025Review
- Unhealthy Food Consumption Is Associated with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 in Brazilian Elderly People.Infectious disease reports · 2025Article
- The Association Between Dietary Supplement Use and COVID-19 Symptoms.Journal of dietary supplements · 2025Article
- Immunomodulatory Effects of Vitamin D and Zinc on Viral Infection.Biological trace element research · 2025Review
- Retinol and retinol binding protein 4 levels and COVID-19: a Mendelian randomization study.BMC pulmonary medicine · 2024Article
- Gut Microbiota Improves Prognostic Prediction in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients Alongside Immunological and Hematological Indicators.Research (Washington, D.C.) · 2024Article
- Article
- Association of vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine with COVID-19 severity and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis.SAGE open medicine · 2024Review
- Potent Antiviral Activity of Vitamin B12 against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, and Human Coronavirus 229E.Microorganisms · 2023Article
- Retinol Levels and Severity of Patients with COVID-19.Nutrients · 2023Article
- The Effect of Vit-D Supplementation on the Side Effect of BioNTech, Pfizer Vaccination and Immunoglobulin G Response Against SARS-CoV-2 in the Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19: A Randomized Control Trial.Clinical nutrition research · 2023Article
- Gut Microbiota and Critically Ill Patients: Immunity and Its Modulation via Probiotics and Immunonutrition.Nutrients · 2023Review
44 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
There are limited proven therapeutic options for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The role of vitamin and mineral supplementation or "immunonutrition" has previously been explored in a number of clinical trials in intensive care settings, and there are several hypotheses to support their routine use. The aim of this narrative review was to investigate whether vitamin supplementation is beneficial in COVID-19. A systematic search strategy with a narrative literature summary was designed, using the Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Trials Register, WHO International Clinical Trial Registry, and Nexis media databases. The immune-mediating, antioxidant and antimicrobial roles of vitamins A to E were explored and their potential role in the fight against COVID-19 was evaluated. The major topics extracted for narrative synthesis were physiological and immunological roles of each vitamin, their role in respiratory infections, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and COVID-19. Vitamins A to E highlighted potentially beneficial roles in the fight against COVID-19 via antioxidant effects, immunomodulation, enhancing natural barriers, and local paracrine signaling. Level 1 and 2 evidence supports the use of thiamine, vitamin C, and vitamin D in COVID-like respiratory diseases, ARDS, and sepsis. Although there are currently no published clinical trials due to the novelty of SARS-CoV-2 infection, there is pathophysiologic rationale for exploring the use of vitamins in this global pandemic, supported by early anecdotal reports from international groups. The final outcomes of ongoing trials of vitamin supplementation are awaited with interest.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.