Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) contains multiple compounds which have antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties. The role of VCO as an antivirus to treat COVID-19 requires further studies. A previous study has investigated the used of 30 ml of VCO to healthy volunteers for a month and reported no side effect. Here the investigators conduct a pilot trial to investigate the effect of VCO towards the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients in Indonesia.
The subjects of this pilot study are patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Central Public
Hospital Dr. Sardjito, Teaching Hospital of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and Yogyakarta
COVID-19 referral hospitals (RSUD Wonosari and Sleman). The COVID-19 patients are recruited
according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, then divided randomly into two groups.
Group I, the intervention group, consists of COVID-19 patients receiving standard therapy and
15 mL of VCO twice a day for 14 days. Group II, the control group, consists of COVID-19
patients receiving standard therapy and 15 mL of placebo twice a day for 14 days. Both groups
are monitored for four weeks with a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal Polymerase Chain Reaction
(PCR) swab test.
Drug: virgin coconut oil (VCO)
15 mL of VCO twice a day for 14 days
Other Name: virgin coconut oil
Other: placebo
15 mL of placebo twice a day for 14 days
Other Name: mineral water
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adult patients, age ≥ 18 years old.
- COVID-19 patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal PCR swab specimens that
are treated in Central Public Hospital Dr. Sardjito, Teaching Hospital of Universitas
Gadjah Mada (UGM), and Yogyakarta COVID-19 referral hospitals.
- Patients with mild and moderate pneumonia symptoms that are treated in Central Public
Hospital Dr. Sardjito, Teaching Hospital of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and
Yogyakarta COVID-19 referral hospitals.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with liver function disorder.
- VCO hypersensitivity.
- Patients with severe pneumonia and/or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
- Pregnant patients.
- Patients with malignant comorbidity.
- Critical or unconscious patients.
- Patients using other immunomodulators similar to VCO within less than three days
before VCO administration.
Central Public Hospital Dr. Sardjito
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
RSUD Wonosari
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
RSUP Sleman
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Teaching Hospital of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Ika Trisnawati, MD, MSc, internist
6281228282801
ika.trisnawati@ugm.ac.id
Ika Trisnawati, MD, MSc, internist, Principal Investigator
Gadjah Mada University