KUALA LUMPUR: The usage of Vitamin C intravenous injection is not being used in the Covid-19 treatment protocol in Malaysia due to a lack of scientific evidence, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
He said more studies on the efficacy of Vitamin C intravenous injections on Covid-19 patients were needed before it could be employed.
"Vitamin C injections are also not included in Covid-19 treatment protocols in other countries such as Singapore and Australia.
"The Health Ministry takes note of Covid-19 treatment developments, based on scientific evidence and recommendations from international bodies to ensure the best and safest treatment for all patients."
He said this in Dewan Rakyat today, to a question from Dr Azman Ismail (PH-Kuala Kedah) who had asked on the ministry's stand on the usage of Vitamin C intravenous injection on Covid-19 patients.
Dr Noor Azmi said a retrospective study had been conducted by Health Ministry personnel from the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, Perak and the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, titled "Effects of High Dose Vitamin C Supplementation on Severe Covid-19 Patients In The ICU".
He said while findings from this study showed that high doses of Vitamin C had reduced mortality rates and resulted in shorter hospital stays, it was too small of a cohort to be considered as a strong study.
"In the study, one of the findings was that the mortality rate of those with the Vitamin C stood at 14.3 per cent while those without at 71.4 per cent, which is a good indication.
"However, the retrospective study has a small cohort of only 14 patients.
"The ministry plans to conduct a more in-depth randomised placebo study to see how effective intravenous Vitamin C injection can help," he added.