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Apr 5, 2021 · Based on the science, there is reason to be hopeful that supplements such as vitamin C or D, zinc, or melatonin might help in the fight against COVID-19. While there's no proof yet that they do, additional research could show a benefit in certain situations, or with a different dose or formulation of the supplement.
- Vitamin C. Though the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says there’s not enough evidence to recommend either for or against using vitamin C for COVID-19, some research does indicate there are benefits to taking vitamin C.
- Vitamin D. Vitamin D reached all-time popularity during the pandemic. If there’s one vitamin that’s been researched the most with regard to COVID-19, it may be this one.
- Zinc. There is quite a bit of research indicating that the mineral zinc can be helpful at helping you fend off COVID-19. A small 2023 study found that taking zinc reduced death, hospital admission and shortened duration of symptoms.
- Melatonin. There’s quite a bit of research on the hormone melatonin to treat COVID-19. A 2022 study published in Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences found melatonin helps manage the effect of the cytokine storm that’s a common response to COVID-19.
- Are Supplements Beneficial For Preventing Or Treating Covid-19?
- Who May Not Benefit
- Supplements We Do Not Recommend at This Time
- How We Select Supplements
- What to Look For in Covid-19 Supplements
“There has been a lot of discussion about the role of dietary supplements in treating or preventing COVID-19. The CDC, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Infectious DIsease Society of America have looked into whether they can help, and they all agree that there is currently no evidence to support that they do,” says Thottingal. That said, the...
People who eat a well-balanced diet.“For most people with varied diets, vitamins, minerals, and other supplements are unlikely to provide any benefit or prevent COVID-19 infection,” says LaRose. On...People taking certain medications. Many vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements interact with medications and can reduce effectiveness or increase the amount the body absorbs, which can be dangero...People with certain underlying conditions. While being immunocompromised may put you at higher risk for severe illness and complications from COVID-19, that doesn’t mean you should take supplements...Probiotics. Initial research suggests probiotics offer small benefits in very specific cases, but not enough is known to make a recommendation at this point. Probiotics are highly individualizedand...Quercetin: Although some very small preliminary studies show promise that quercetin supplements may reduce severity of illness, these studies had several limitations. There is not enough evidence t...Magnesium. Magnesium plays an indirect role in the immune system, so it has been discussed as a possible therapy for COVID-19. Currently the evidence to support magnesium supplementation is lacking...Selenium: Selenium plays an important role in the immune system. While preliminary data suggests a link between low selenium status and risk of severe disease, the quality of evidence is low and st...Our team works hard to be transparent about why we recommend certain supplements; you can read more about our dietary supplement methodology here. We support supplements that are evidence-based and rooted in science. We value certain product attributes that we find to be associated with the highest quality products. We prioritize products that are ...
Third-Party Testing
Supplements that are third-party tested are sent to a lab where they are tested to ensure they contain what they say they contain and are not contaminated with specific high-risk, common contaminants. However, it’s important to note: 1. Third party testing does not test to see if a product is effective or safe for everyone, and it does not ensure the supplement will not interact with other supplements or medications. 2. Not all third-party testing is created equal. It is not uncommon for supp...
Form
Each vitamin or mineral supplement discussed in this article comes in more than one form. We’ve recommended a form that is supported by research, but there may be additional forms that are appropriate for you in some cases. Please discuss the best form of each supplement with a healthcare provider.
Ingredients & Potential Interactions
It is essential to carefully read the ingredient list and nutrition facts panel of a supplement to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included, relative to the recommended daily value of that ingredient. Please bring the supplement label to your healthcare provider to review the different ingredients contained in the supplement and any potential interactions between these ingredients and other supplements and medications you are taking. Many of the supplements recommend...
- Jillian Kubala, MS, RD
- Vitamin D. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient essential to the health and functioning of your immune system. Vitamin D enhances the pathogen-fighting effects of monocytes and macrophages — white blood cells that are important parts of your immune defense — and decreases inflammation, which helps promote immune response (3).
- Zinc. Zinc is a mineral that’s commonly added to supplements and other healthcare products like lozenges that are meant to boost your immune system. This is because zinc is essential for immune system function.
- Vitamin C. Vitamin C is perhaps the most popular supplement taken to protect against infection due to its important role in immune health. This vitamin supports the function of various immune cells and enhances their ability to protect against infection.
- Elderberry. Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra), which has long been used to treat infections, is being researched for its effects on immune health. In test-tube studies, elderberry extract demonstrates potent antibacterial and antiviral potential against bacterial pathogens responsible for upper respiratory tract infections and strains of the influenza virus (35, 36).
- Vitamin D. Vitamin D is the most frequently discussed micronutrient among nutrition experts for the management of COVID-19 (5). This fat-soluble vitamin and hormone exerts an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing overactivity of the immune system, according to newer and older research (1, 5, 8, 9).
- Carotenoids and vitamin A. Carotenoids are antioxidants as well as pigments (red, green, yellow, and orange). They’re found in nature in some colorful algae, bacteria, fungi, plants, fruits, and vegetables, some of which you can include in your diet (20, 21).
- Zinc. Zinc deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of infections and poorer outcomes in those with COVID-19 (1, 35). Zinc is regarded as one of the most important minerals.
- Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fats are a category of fatty acids shown to have anti-inflammatory health benefits, including for brain health, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis (1, 9, 53, 54).
Another trial is investigating whether supplementation with zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D (doses not specified), and hydroxychloroquine for 24 weeks helps prevent COVID-19 in about 600 medical workers aged 18 years and older .
Health Professional. Other Resources. Table of Contents. What is COVID-19? How does your immune system respond to COVID-19? What do we know about specific dietary supplement ingredients and COVID-19? Andrographis. Echinacea. Elderberry. Ginseng. Magnesium. Melatonin. N-acetylcysteine. Omega-3 fatty acids. Probiotics. Quercetin. Selenium. Vitamin C.
