Background: : This study aimed to check the effect of supplementation with low-dose group B vitamins on clinical and biochemical parameters on patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Research design and method: : This double-blind, randomized clinical trial was carried out on 85 critically ill patients with COVID-19. All patients received high protein prescriptions of 30 kcal/kg/d by enteral nutrition. The intervention group (n = 40) received vitamin B complex, including thiamine (10 mg), riboflavin (4 mg), nicotinamide (40 mg), and dexpanthenol (6 mg). The control group received similar nutritional supports, except for group B vitamins. Assessments were carried out at baseline and after 2 weeks of intervention.
Results: : Vitamin B supplementation had no effects on the biochemical and pathological parameters including kidney function, arterial blood gas parameters, Glasgow coma scale, cell blood count, and serum electrolytes of the intervention group compared with the control group. The 30-day mortality was insignificantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (83.3% against 96.1%, P = 0.07).
Conclusions: The mortality rate of patients with COVID-19 might be improved by low-dose vitamin B supplementation.
Keywords: COVID-19; critically ill patients; vitamin B.