The chlorine dioxide controversy: A deadly poison or a cure for COVID-19?

"Abstract

Chlorine dioxide [ClO₂) has been condemned as a dangerous poison and has been touted as a cure for COVID-19. This narrative review examines the controversy surrounding the use of aqueous chlorine dioxide by investigating evidence-based research articles, government documents, press reports, and the results of the first clinical trial utilizing chlorine dioxide as a treatment for COVID-19...

Results

... Virucidal activity of chlorine dioxide: ClO₂ acts as a potent, rapid virucide with activity against a wide range of viruses including Poliovirus, Adenovirus, Herpes simplex virus-1, Influenza virus, Measles virus, Mumps virus, and SARS-CoV... After coming in contact with a virus, chlorine dioxide rapidly oxidizes specific amino acids [primarily cysteine, tryptophan and tyrosine] in viral proteins, resulting in the loss of an electron from these amino acids. This redox reaction between ClO₂ and the virus degrades the virus’s proteins, rendering it inactive and unable to infect host cells...

Efficacy

... An international multi-center study was carried out from July 2020 through December 2020 involving 20 patients from Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. The treatment group [n=20] consisted of patients aged 18-80 years old, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via RT-PCR and reported characteristic symptoms of COVID-19 [that is, fever, odynophagia, respiratory distress]...

The results of the study found a statistically significant reduction in symptoms in the treatment group compared with the control group...

In early August 2020, Bolivia approved ClO₂ as a prevention and treatment for COVID-19. The number of cases of COVID-19 subsequently dropped 93% from August 20, 2020 to October 21, 2020 and daily deaths decreased 82% from a peak on September 3, 2020 to October 21, 2020. Although other factors may have played a role in the decline in cases and mortality during this time, the fact that cases and deaths dropped in Bolivia but not surrounding countries suggests ClO₂ may have played a role in the progress seen in Bolivia.

Discussion

... Despite uncertainty regarding the rate of adverse events and the need for studies exploring optimal dosing, data from initial human studies exploring low dose aqueous ClO₂ as a treatment for COVID-19 suggest this agent reduces the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. 

Conclusion

... A dispassionate assessment of the evidence-based risk-benefit ratio indicates a scientific rationale exists for the examination of ClO₂ as a potential treatment for COVID-19."