Summary of COVID-19 saline studies
Studies
Meta Analysis
Hide extended summaries
RCT 379 mild COVID-19 cases showing significantly lower prevalence and severity of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction with budesonide nasal spray, chlorhexidine mouthwash, and saline nasal irrigation. The control group received no intervention, the saline group received saline nasal irrigation plus saline nasal spray and mouthwash, and the drug group received saline nasal irrigation plus budesonide nasal spray and chlorhexidine mouthwash. Saline nasal irrigation plus nasal spray and mouthwash were administered once and four times daily, respectively. Both treatment groups had significantly lower prevalence and severity olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. Prevalence was lower for the drug vs. saline group, without statistical significance.
Nov 2023, QJM: An Int. J. Medicine, https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/advance-article/doi/10.1093/qjmed/hcad262/7439598, https://c19p.org/jingnacl
RCT 98 outpatients in Brazil, showing faster recovery from cough with inhaled hypertonic saline. Authors note that the effect on coughing may hypothetically be related to a hyperosmotic response influencing the function of different membrane channels and preventing virus entry into the cells; and that the hypertonic solution may increase mucociliary clearance and reduce the destructive inflammatory process in the airways with a decrease in respiratory symptoms.
Sep 2023, J. Clinical Medicine, https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/18/6075, https://c19p.org/tanni
RCT mechanically ventilated patients in Croatia, showing no significant difference in mortality with saline inhalation. ICU mortality results are from [repozitorij.mefst.unist.hr].
May 2022, Microorganisms, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/6/1118, https://c19p.org/delicnacl
RCT with 20 saline and 20 control low risk patients in India, showing faster recovery with saline gargling, but no significant difference in viral clearance.
Jul 2022, Indian J. Community Medicine, https://journals.lww.com/ijcm/Fulltext/2022/47020/Impact_of_Steam_Inhalation,_Saline_Gargling,_and.12.aspx, https://c19p.org/chalagerisa
1. Jing et al., Effective early strategy to prevent olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in COVID-19: a randomized controlled trial
260 patient saline early treatment RCT: 71% lower progression (p<0.0001) and 97% lower severe cases (p<0.0001).RCT 379 mild COVID-19 cases showing significantly lower prevalence and severity of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction with budesonide nasal spray, chlorhexidine mouthwash, and saline nasal irrigation. The control group received no intervention, the saline group received saline nasal irrigation plus saline nasal spray and mouthwash, and the drug group received saline nasal irrigation plus budesonide nasal spray and chlorhexidine mouthwash. Saline nasal irrigation plus nasal spray and mouthwash were administered once and four times daily, respectively. Both treatment groups had significantly lower prevalence and severity olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. Prevalence was lower for the drug vs. saline group, without statistical significance.
Nov 2023, QJM: An Int. J. Medicine, https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/advance-article/doi/10.1093/qjmed/hcad262/7439598, https://c19p.org/jingnacl
2. Tanni et al., Efficacy of BREATHOX® Device Inhalation on Acute Symptoms Associated with COVID-19 (BREATH Study): A Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial
98 patient saline early treatment RCT: 75% lower hospitalization (p=0.34) and 10% worse recovery (p=0.7).RCT 98 outpatients in Brazil, showing faster recovery from cough with inhaled hypertonic saline. Authors note that the effect on coughing may hypothetically be related to a hyperosmotic response influencing the function of different membrane channels and preventing virus entry into the cells; and that the hypertonic solution may increase mucociliary clearance and reduce the destructive inflammatory process in the airways with a decrease in respiratory symptoms.
Sep 2023, J. Clinical Medicine, https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/18/6075, https://c19p.org/tanni
3. Delić et al., Effects of Different Inhalation Therapy on Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Ventilated COVID-19 Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
94 patient saline ICU RCT: 26% lower mortality (p=0.09).RCT mechanically ventilated patients in Croatia, showing no significant difference in mortality with saline inhalation. ICU mortality results are from [repozitorij.mefst.unist.hr].
May 2022, Microorganisms, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/6/1118, https://c19p.org/delicnacl
4. Chalageri et al., Impact of steam inhalation, saline gargling, and povidone-iodine gargling on clinical outcome of COVID-19 patients in Bengaluru, Karnataka: A randomized control trial
40 patient saline early treatment RCT: 43% improved recovery (p=0.0004).RCT with 20 saline and 20 control low risk patients in India, showing faster recovery with saline gargling, but no significant difference in viral clearance.
Jul 2022, Indian J. Community Medicine, https://journals.lww.com/ijcm/Fulltext/2022/47020/Impact_of_Steam_Inhalation,_Saline_Gargling,_and.12.aspx, https://c19p.org/chalagerisa
Please send us corrections, updates, or comments.
c19early involves the extraction of 100,000+ datapoints from
thousands of papers. Community updates
help ensure high accuracy.
Treatments and other interventions are complementary.
All practical, effective, and safe
means should be used based on risk/benefit analysis.
No treatment or intervention is 100% available and effective for all current
and future variants.
We do not provide medical advice. Before taking any medication,
consult a qualified physician who can provide personalized advice and details
of risks and benefits based on your medical history and situation. FLCCC and WCH
provide treatment protocols.
Thanks for your feedback! Please search before submitting papers and note
that studies are listed under the date they were first available, which may be
the date of an earlier preprint.