The International Alliance C0V-19 Treatment Study
By National Institute of Integrative Medicine
We are excited to announce that Stage 1 of the International Alliance COVID-19 Treatment Study has now been published:
Ried K, BinJemain T, Sali A (November 25, 2021). Therapies to Prevent Progression of COVID-19, Including Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin, Zinc, and Vitamin D3 With or Without Intravenous Vitamin C: An International, Multicenter, Randomized Trial. Cureus 13(11): e19902.
Abstract
Stage 1 of the Study took place in seven participating hospitals in Turkey. A total of 237 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 aged 22-99 years (mean: 63.3 ± 15.7 years) were enrolled in the study. Almost all patients were vitamin D deficient (97%), 55% were severely vitamin D deficient (<25 nmol/L) and 42% were vitamin D deficient (<50 nmol/L); 3% had insufficient vitamin D levels (<75 nmol/L), and none had optimal vitamin D levels.
All but one patient (99.6%; n = 236/237) treated with HCQ, AZM, and zinc with or without high-dose IV vitamin C (IVC) fully recovered. Additional IVC therapy contributed significantly to a quicker recovery (15 days versus 45 days until discharge; p = 0.0069).
Our study suggests that the treatment protocol of HCQ, AZM, and zinc with or without vitamin C is safe and effective in the treatment of COVID-19, with high dose IV vitamin C leading to a significantly quicker recovery.
The observed fatality rate of 0.4% (1/237) in our study stands in contrast to a 17% fatality rate of hospitalised COVID-19 patients receiving standard care, based on a meta-analysis of 33 international studies involving 13,400 patients.
In summary, our study confirms vitamin D deficiency to be a high-risk factor of severe COVID-19 disease and hospitalization. Furthermore, our study provides evidence for HCQ, AZM, zinc, with or without Intravenous Vitamin C to be safe and effective in the treatment of COVID-19.
___________________________________________________________________________
We are seeking Australian participants for the outpatient arm of the International ALLIANCE COVID-19 Treatment Study.
The National Institute of Integrative Medicine is seeking expressions of interest from individuals who live in Australia, and display symptoms of COVID-19.
This trial will assess the effectiveness of an integrative medical approach to preventing the progression of COVID-19 with a combination of medications and supplements.
Investigators:
Dr Taufiq Binjemain (MD, NIIM GP)
AProf Dr Karin Ried (PhD, NIIM Research Director)
Dr Avni Sali (MD, NIIM Director)
The Trial has ethics and TGA approval and is registered on the ANZ clinical trial registry
ACTRN12620000557932.
Therapies to prevent progression of COVID-19 – a multicentre international randomised trial
In-hospital protocol:
Arm 1: HCQ, AZM, Zinc (ref 1 & 2), Vit D
Arm 2: HCQ, AZM, Zinc (ref 1 & 2), Vit D + Vit C (IVC & oral)
Arm 3: Intravenous Vitamin C (IVC)
Outpatient protocol:
HCQ: 2 x 200 mg for 1 day
AZM: 500 mg on day 1 followed by 250 mg once daily for 4 days
Vitamin C: 1 gram 3x times per day (3g/day) for 14 days
Zinc Citrate: 30mg elemental zinc daily for 7-14 days
Vitamin D3: 5-10,000 IU daily (if Vitamin D levels are < 75 nmol/l)
For more information about the Australian outpatient trial or to submit an expression of interest:
Enrolment in the COVID-19 Treatment Trial only for symptomatic patients:
Step 1: If you develop any COVID symptoms, please email research@niim.com.au with your name, address, phone number, and a short description of your symptoms – Subject heading: COVID Symptoms;
and we will send out some forms for your to return, before we send out the treatment pack.
Step 2: Return signed consent forms
Step 3: Please stay in touch once you’ve received the treatment so we can monitor your symptoms
If you don’t have any symptoms, you are encouraged to
Step 1: Get your Vitamin D levels measured with your local GP
Step 2: You may be eligible to receive a FREE Vitamin D supplement
Step 3: Take vitamin D, C and Zinc on a daily basis
