Efficacy of a Nasal Spray Containing Iota-Carrageenan in the Postexposure Prophylaxis of COVID-19 in Hospital Personnel.., 2021, Figueroa et al

Binkie4

Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Moved posts

@Sasha
I am unable to answer your question about sterilising vaccines but I would add that in a recent consultation with Dr Bansal, he advised that I should add in a specified nasal spray to use prophylactically in order to avoid covid as I extended my activities.This is on top of masks, distancing, etc.


edit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8493111/

I found this link to one of the components of the recommended nasal spray, Carageenan ( added).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you for enquiring about this nasal spray @Sasha.

On looking at the link above , the results looked promising. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8493111/

"In this pilot study a nasal spray with I-C showed significant efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in health care workers managing patients with COVID-19 disease."

I shall be around people more than usual soon and will buy an extra bottle so that we don't run out. Have already stocked up on test kits, masks etc.
 
Thank you for enquiring about this nasal spray @Sasha.

On looking at the link above , the results looked promising. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8493111/

"In this pilot study a nasal spray with I-C showed significant efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in health care workers managing patients with COVID-19 disease."

I shall be around people more than usual soon and will buy an extra bottle so that we don't run out. Have already stocked up on test kits, masks etc.

is it a brand you can buy in uk?
 
@Sasha
I am unable to answer your question about sterilising vaccines but I would add that in a recent consultation with Dr Bansal, he advised that I should add in a specified nasal spray to use prophylactically in order to avoid covid as I extended my activities.This is on top of masks, distancing, etc.


edit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8493111/

I found this link to one of the components of the recommended nasal spray

If it was the Boots one I used I before I came down with Covid. It did take a while to develop and more than 4 days to return a positive Covid test which may be why?
 
In case of wider interest, Dr Bansal recommended a Carageenan spray. We have Boots Dual Defense nasal spray.

I found this link to sprays containing Carrageenan.
NIH research link https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8493111/

I use Vicks First Defence Nasal spray but it doesn't appear to have Carrageenan in it. Perhaps I should switch to the Boots one. I tend to use it before I see people or go out (rare!) rather than on first sign of illness. Seems worth doing if it might make a difference.
 
Efficacy of a Nasal Spray Containing Iota-Carrageenan in the Postexposure Prophylaxis of COVID-19 in Hospital Personnel Dedicated to Patients Care with COVID-19 Disease, 2021, Figueroa et al

Abstract
Background
Iota-Carrageenan (I-C) is a sulfate polysaccharide synthesized by red algae, with demonstrated antiviral activity and clinical efficacy as nasal spray in the treatment of common cold. In vitro, I-C inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in cell culture.

Research Question
Can a nasal spray with Iota-Carrageenan be useful in the prophylaxis of COVID-19 in health care workers managing patients with COVID-19 disease?

Study Design and Methods
This is a pilot pragmatic multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing the use of a nasal spray containing I-C in the prophylaxis of COVID-19 in hospital personnel dedicated to care of COVID-19 patients. Clinically healthy physicians, nurses, kinesiologists and other health care providers managing patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive four daily doses of I-C spray or placebo for 21 days. The primary end point was clinical COVID-19, as confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing, over a period of 21 days. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04521322).

Results
A total of 394 individuals were randomly assigned to receive I-C or placebo. Both treatment groups had similar baseline characteristics. The incidence of COVID-19 differs significantly between subjects receiving the nasal spray with I-C (2 of 196 [1.0%]) and those receiving placebo (10 of 198 [5.0%]). Relative risk reduction: 79.8% (95% CI 5.3 to 95.4; p=0.03). Absolute risk reduction: 4% (95% CI 0.6 to 7.4).

Interpretation
In this pilot study a nasal spray with I-C showed significant efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in health care workers managing patients with COVID-19 disease.
 
Just had a look at the Boots Dual Defence Nasal Spray and it says it contains kappa-Carrageenan, as opposed to the iota-Carrageenan referred to in the research paper. Is that likely to make a difference? Is there a kappa-Carrageenan spray available in the UK?
 
Just had a look at the Boots Dual Defence Nasal Spray and it says it contains kappa-Carrageenan, as opposed to the iota-Carrageenan referred to in the research paper. Is that likely to make a difference? Is there a kappa-Carrageenan spray available in the UK?


I don't know @Sasha. If I can find the energy, I'll look out Dr B ansal's letter. May be this evening. I did a sleep study at weekend and am not recovered.
 
Mr B found the letter. Advises a carrageenan spray from Boots the chemist ( Dual Defence Nasal Spray) as this can reduce the ability of viruses to enter the body.

No more information I'm afraid. If you are really concerned, could you email Boots?
 
Thanks, @Binkie4 - and I hope you recover from your sleep study soon!

I came across an iota version available in the UK but it appears to also contain a dodgy chemical so I think I'll go for the Boots one, which otherwise contains just water.
 
Here's a link to that press item. It says:

article said:
"The spray, called Pathogen Capture and Neutralizing Spray (PCANS) in the paper, was developed using ingredients from the FDA's Inactive Ingredient Database (IID), which have been previously used in approved nasal sprays, or from the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list of the FDA," said co-senior author Nitin Joshi, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

It has only been tested on mice so far.
 
Back
Top Bottom