By Pearl Gumapos
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Thursday (June 10) said trials are ongoing for virgin coconut oil (VCO) as a food supplement to help diminish symptoms of COVID-19.
“Pero po para gamitin siya sa COVID-19, although meron na po tayong pag-aaral na ito po ay nakatutulong para mas mabilis gumaling ang ating mga pasyente na may COVID-19, kailangan pa po natin gumawa ng karagdagang pag-aaral para maunawaan kung paano ito ginagawa ng VCO,” DOST Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya said.
In a study released by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) in December last year, results showed that VCO as a dietary supplement for COVID-19 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.
Montoya said that while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the oil as a food supplement, there is still a need to follow protocols and continue doing whatever can be done to avoid COVID-19 transmission.
Montoya said the vaccination and the VCO are two separate things.
“Magkaiba po ‘yan. Ang bakuna po ay ibinibigay sa mga wala pang sakit, and ibinibigay ‘yan para hindi sila magkasakit. Ang VCO po ay kasalukuyang pinag-aaralan natin kung may natutulong sa paggaling ng mga mayroong COVID-19,” he said.
“Patuloy po ang pananaliksik para tayo ay makadiskubre ng mga gamot at mga pamamaraan para ma-control po natin ang hinaharap nating problema ngayon na pandemya,” he added. – jlo
