TOTOO nga bang makakatulong ang virgin coconut oil kontra covid-19 virus? Gaya ng kini claim ng ilan na ginamit umano nila ang nasabing langis bilang supplement kaya sila gumaling sa nasabing karamdaman? Ang mga dalbhasa sa agham at medisina na ang nagsabi na maari nga na makatulong ito ng bahagya upang labanan ang mga nararamdamang sintomas ng mga nagkakasakit ngayong pandemya ngunit gamut nga ba ang VCO para sa covid?
Sa ginawang pagtatanong ng pahayagang ito sa mga naka srvive o gumaling sa nasabing sakit maging sa ilan na mga naka quarantine pa rin sabi nila ay hindi lang ang VCO. Kundi ang buong niyog at mga produktong pagkain at gamut na mula rito pati na rin ang pagkain ng glat at prutas ang tunay na solusyon pang bahagyang mapigilan ang pagkalat ng virus sa katawan ng may sakit na o para tulyan kang hindi magkasakit o dapan ang virus.
Sa isinagawang virtual pulong balitaan ng Food and Ntrition Research Institute ng Department of Science and Technology kung saan naroon sina DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Pena at FNRI Director Mario Capanzana ibinahagi nila ang mga luting may sangkap na VCO at ng niyog. Nabatid na isa ang Pilipinas sa mga bansang nagpo prodys ng niyog at kaya nililibak ang niyog sa daigdig ay dahilan sa napakarami nitong medicinal at therapeutic properties na maaring magamit bilang lnas sa mga karamdaman.///Michael Balaguer, +639333816694, michaelbalaguer@diaryongtagalog.net
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Meals with VCO could diminish COVID-19 symptoms – DOST-FNRI study
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the medical and scientific community into the research and development of interventions and solutions in preventing, managing, and possibly eradicating the persistent virus that has been causing havoc on socio-economic progress, as well as the health and nutritional condition of the population.
Results of the joint study of the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), Philippine Coconut Authority (DA-PCA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) CALABARZON, City of Santa Rosa, Laguna, and the Ateneo de Manila University have shown that virgin coconut oil (VCO) could be used as a supplement to probable and suspect cases of COVID-19.
The study showed that VCO mixed with meals could reduce COVID-19 symptoms, thus, possibly preventing the progression or severity of the disease. The study team evaluated the effects of virgin coconut oil given to suspect and probable cases of COVID-19 quarantined in a facility or hospital.
Investigators randomly assigned the volunteers into either the Intervention or VCO Group or the Control Group.The Santa Rosa Community Quarantine Facility and at the Santa Rosa Community Hospital in Santa Rosa City, Laguna were the study sites.
The study excluded suspect or probable cases who have a history of heart ailment and those taking medications for heart disease, those with high cholesterol levels, pregnant, and those who are asymptomatic to COVID-19.
There were 57 suspect and probable COVID-19 patients who participated and underwent the 28-day intervention period. Participants in the Intervention or VCO Group were given standardized meals mixed with VCO developed by DOST-FNRI.
The Control Group also received the usual standardized meals but without VCO. Meals were cooked by a contracted catering service in the area, while the precise amount of VCO was mixed on-site by Registered Nutritionist-Dietitians hired for the study.
Meals were served free of charge and delivered in the quarantine facilities during the participants’ confinement, and later at their respective homes after being already discharged.
There were 29 cases who were in the VCO Group and 28 in the Control Group. An initial dose of 0.6 milliliters of VCO per kilogram of body weight was mixed with the standard breakfast meals of the VCO Group on the first three days of the trial.
The dose was increased to 1.2 milliliters of VCO per kilogram of body weight mixed with the standard breakfast and lunch of the VCO Group from Day 4 to 28. Study participants in the VCO Group with reported VCO intolerance were given computed amounts of VCO per kilogram of body weight in their standard breakfast, lunch and dinner meals.
Symptoms, like cough, colds, body aches, headache, loss of taste and smell, and fever were monitored daily for 28 days. Immediate effects of the VCO intervention were observed among five of the 29 patients in the VCO Group who experienced decreasing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 as early as Day 2, while only 1 patient from the Control Group showed similar improvement.
Moreover, the VCO group experienced no more symptoms at Day 18, while the Control Group exhibited no symptoms only at Day 23. The diminishing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in the VCO Group was supported by the decreasing levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) of the participants.
The CRP is a quantitative marker used in monitoring inflammation or infections. Normalization of CRP levels correlate with recovery from infection using the cut-off of less than 5 milligrams per liter (mg/L) which indicates no infections or inflammations.
Mean CRP levels of the VCO Group normalized to 5 milligrams per liter or less as early as Day 14 and continuously decreased until Day 18 Normalization of CRP levels in the Control Group was also evident from Day 1 to Day 14, but this remained at the borderline of 5 milligrams per liter from Day 14 until the end of the intervention.
This study is a promising initiative in exploring locally-available and easily-accessible food supplements that might help in the management of COVID-19. “More studies are recommended to determine the effectiveness of VCO as an adjunct or supportive therapy for COVID-19 patients with other co-morbidities”, says study leader and Scientist II Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa of DOST-FNRI.
The VCO used in the study were strictly analyzed by the Laboratory Services Division of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to ensure product quality and compliance to Philippine National Standard (PNS).
The PCA requests VCO producers to have their VCO samples analyzed by PCA prior to promotion and marketing. Currently, PCA is planning to develop the protocol in establishing the seal of quality for VCO. (DOST-FNRI S&T Media Service: NICHOLE M. BRISTOL, SRS I)
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DOST-SEI OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON SCHOLARS’ STIPENDS
The Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) would like to assure the public and all stakeholders of its continuing commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of all our scholars amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We recently consulted with the various universities under the National Science Consortium (NSC) towards revisiting our existing policies and revising these where possible so as to help our scholars better cope with these trying times.
In particular, we are looking at ways to help our scholars receive funding in a more timely manner given the adjustments and concessions that universities have had to undertake in the wake of the pandemic. We are also revisiting our policies on the disbursement of funds so as to better provide for their needs above and beyond the demands of the classroom—an urgent concern, given how many of them have been thrust into the thick of research early in their programs.
We recognize that the unusual circumstances of the ongoing pandemic have necessitated major changes and adjustments across all sectors of society, and it behooves us to join hands with our scholars and stakeholders in working through this temporary period of upheaval and uncertainty.
The stipends for current undergraduate and graduate scholars were already released in full in the latter half of this year. Meanwhile, we are working for the prompt release of stipends for new scholars within the coming months. As we make these adjustments, we look forward to improving our services through constant dialogue with the NSC, our scholars, and stakeholders.
DOST-SEI remains committed to working towards a COVID-free society, with science in full service of the Filipino people.
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