The Safety of Nebulized Conjugated Linoleic Acid for COVID-19 Respiratory Tract Infections

TL;DR

This study reviews the safety and potential benefits of nebulized conjugated linoleic acid (K-CLA) in treating COVID-19 respiratory infections.

Contribution

The study provides initial human safety data and observed clinical outcomes for nebulized K-CLA in early pandemic patients.

Findings

Three out of 57 patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events like cough and nausea.

18 out of 25 hypoxic patients reported improvements in dyspnea and/or pulse oximetry after K-CLA treatment.

The results support the need for further controlled trials on nebulized K-CLA for respiratory infections.

Abstract

Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid, and in 2007, the US FDA listed conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for human consumption. The potassium salt of conjugated linoleic acid (K-CLA) exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. K-CLA also possesses mucolytic properties. This study reviewed the safety of nebulized K-CLA for COVID-19-related respiratory tract infections early during the pandemic. Among 57 treated subjects, adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in three patients. Two reported an increased cough, and the other reported nausea with emesis. Of the 57 patients treated, 25 were hypoxic during their infection, and 18 of the 25 reported benefits with dyspnea and/or pulse oximetry after initiation of nebulized K-CLA. This retrospective case series provides initial human safety data and describes observed clinical outcomes in subjects treated with nebulized K-CLA, supporting the need for prospective controlled trials.

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