Coconut and COVID-19: Philippines studying antiviral properties of coconut oil as potential treatment

The Philippines had been studying virgin coconut oil​ (VCO) as a potential treatment for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) which has since infected more than 80,000 people and killed more than 2,800 worldwide.

There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19. Researchers in The Philippines were testing VCO, according to Dr Jaime Montoya, executive director of the Philippine Council on Health Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCHRD-DOST).

The PCHRD-DOST had announced on February 7 that it would test a “functional food” in infected patients with COVID-19 which Dr. Montoya confirmed in late February was coconut oil.

Dr. Montoya told NutraIngredientsAsia​ that coconut oil and its derivatives have been studied previously for its antiviral properties. He said the VCO has yet to be tested against COVID-19, but they plan on starting clinical trials soon.