Coconut processors push VCO in fight vs COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — With the rising cases of COVID-19 and dengue fever and at least one confirmed case of monkeypox, coconut processors and advocates of the health benefits of virgin coconut oil have urged the government to promote VCO and other non-vaccine strategies to boost immunity and disease resilience of Filipinos.

The VCO Producers and Traders Association of the Philippines (VCO Philippines) said the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) had already undergone clinical trials proving the efficacy of VCO as a cure for mild to moderate COVID cases.

“Based on the two clinical studies that were conducted against two variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (original Wuhan variant and Delta variant), VCO should also work against Omicron variants. This is because VCO is believed to attack the viral membrane, which is the same for all SARS viruses,” VCO Philippines said.

“The dengue and monkeypox viruses are also lipid-coated viruses, so in theory, VCO might be effective as well. However, all of these need to be verified in clinical studies. VCO is safe to take and is inexpensive. Hopefully, the government will fund these studies,” VCO Philippines said.

Dr. Ed Lalusis, patented inventor of a capsulized VCO and president and CEO of Growrich Manufacturing Inc., said that VCO should be added to the country’s armory of weapons against emerging diseases, especially with the DOST-funded clinical trials on VCO that showed its curative properties against COVID-19.

“Well, my advice there really is that we should take the strategy of prevention – mass vaccination with boosters especially, and promote VCO intake,” Lalusis told The STAR.

Dr. Sterling Tiu, a patented inventor of a VCO with menthol spray and who had recently filed an application for patent to a lagundi and VCO mix mouth spray, said coconut oil should be seriously considered as an adjunct treatment for COVID-19.

“Virgin coconut oil has been shown in numerous studies to deactivate viruses such as HIV, RSV, influenza, and many others. With this in mind, VCO can theoretically be used as an adjunct in treating both old and new infectious diseases,” Tiu said.

“While there are no surefire ways to prevent infections, daily VCO intake can help the body prepare and fight better if exposed to these pathogens,” he said.

Meanwhile, lagundi is also believed to have anti-viral properties in addition to being able to relieve respiratory symptoms.

“The best part about VCO and lagundi is that these come from Philippine plants/crops and so there are minimal adverse effects when taking these products and also it is cheaper than medicines and other supplements. Therefore, VCO and lagundi have a strong promise as we head towards an inevitable future of newer pathogens,” Tiu said.

Former science secretary Fortunato dela Peña last January presented the results of the DOST Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) expanded clinical trials on VCO in Valenzuela City which showed the results of the 2020 clinical tests in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

“Both VCO clinical trials by DOST-FNRI confirmed that VCO hastens the resolution of COVID-19 signs and symptoms,” Dela Peña said.