This study examines the efficacy of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) in treating patients with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.
This is a single center, prospective, observational cohort study. A total of 150 cases who
test positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will be recruited. Presenting to the
emergency room of the study site, these cases will be treated with N-acetylglucosamine (NAG)
in 700 mg doses every 12 hours as first-line treatment for 30 days. Standard of care (e.g.,
remdesivir approved for emergency use in severe cases, ventilator for patients with
respiratory failure, etc.) will be provided based on the patient's clinical needs, which will
be at the discretion of the treating physician. Upon admission, the research team will record
patient demographics, comorbidities, symptoms, disease severity (as assessed by the World
Health Organization Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement), need for supplemental oxygen,
and time from symptom onset until hospital arrival. The research team will also collect
bloodwork for the following at admission: white blood cell count (WBC), hematocrit (HCT),
hemoglobin (HBG), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and
erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). During the study period, discretionary treatments and
interventions will be recorded daily until study exit. The primary outcomes of interest are
rate of intubation, hospital length of stay, and mortality. Secondary outcomes of interest
include intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ICU length of stay (LOS), supplemental oxygen
duration, rate of hospice initiation, and poor clinical outcome (defined as combined
death/hospice initiation).
Dietary Supplement: N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG)
Patients with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will be treated with N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) (700 mg every 12 hours) as first-line treatment for 30 days, along with standard of care.
Other: Control
Patients do not receive treatment with N-Acetylglucosamine. They may receive other treatments at the discretion of the treating physician, as with the treatment group.
Inclusion Criteria:
- ≥18 years old
- Treated with N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) as first-line treatment
- Present with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms (including but not limited
to fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, nasal congestion, malaise,
headache, muscle pain, loss of taste and/or smell, diarrhea, and vomiting)
- Clinically diagnosed with COVID-19 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
(RT-PCR)
- No intubation prior to hospitalization and enrollment in the current study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- <18 years old upon admission
- Allergy to NAG
- Allergy to shellfish
- Currently taking warfarin
- Currently pregnant or lactating
Valley Baptist Medical Center
Harlingen, Texas, United States