The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of vitamin D and/or zinc supplementation on improving COVID-19 treatment outcomes. The effects of vitamin D, zinc, and both vitamin D and zinc together will be investigated among COVID-19 patients in India.
This study is a 2x2 factorial randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of vitamin D and zinc supplements as immune-based therapy among COVID-19 patients in India. The study is also examining the immunological response to COVID-19 and the effect of the intervention on specific biomarkers of immune and endothelial activation that are independent and quantitative predictors of severity and mortality in other severe infections. The primary aims are to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation versus placebo on time to recovery among patients hospitalized with COVID-19; and to determine the effect of zinc supplementation versus placebo on time to recovery among patients hospitalized with COVID-19. As secondary aims, this study is also investigating the effect of vitamin D or zinc supplementation on all-cause mortality. necessity for assisted ventilation, individual symptoms duration, duration of hospital stay and biomarkers including vitamin D, Zinc, Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Angiopoietin-2, sTREM-1, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM). Eligible individuals are randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) Vitamin D (180,000 IU bolus at enrollment, followed by 2000 IU daily); (2) Zinc (placebo at enrollment followed by one daily dose of 40 mg); (3) Vitamin D and Zinc; or (4) Placebo. Daily supplements start at the hospital and continue after discharge for a total of 8 weeks. Active data collection occurs daily while patients are hospitalized and at least twice per week via telephone after discharge. A clinical exam occurs at 8 weeks and longer-term symptoms are assessed at 3 months.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
181
180,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D3 at enrollment, followed by 2000 IU once per day from enrollment to 8 weeks
40mg of zinc gluconate taken once per day from enrollment to 8 weeks
180,000 IU of vitamin D3 at enrollment, followed by 2000 IU of vitamin D3 and 40mg of zinc gluconate once per day from enrollment to 8 weeks
Saifee Hospital
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Time to recovery
Defined as resolution of fever, cough and shortness of breath relative to baseline
Time frame: Up to 8 weeks
All-cause mortality
Time frame: Up to 8 weeks
Necessity for assisted ventilation
Time frame: Up to 8 weeks
Individual symptoms duration
Time frame: Up to 8 weeks
Vitamin D
Time frame: At 8 weeks
Zinc
Time frame: At 8 weeks
Interleukin 6 (IL-6)
Time frame: At 8 weeks
Angiopoietin-2
Time frame: At 8 weeks
sTREM-1
Time frame: At 8 weeks
Immunoglobulin M (IgM)
Time frame: At 8 weeks
Immunoglobulin (IgG)
Time frame: At 8 weeks
Duration of hospital stay
Time frame: Up to 8 weeks
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Placebo vitamin D bolus at enrollment followed by placebo daily vitamin D maintenance doses and placebo daily zinc supplements.