Therapeutic potential of 5-aminolevulinic acid and sodium-ferrous citrate for viral insults: relevance to the COVID-19 crisis.

Introduction: : 5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a naturally synthesized amino acid present in most plants as well as animals, and it is routinely consumed by humans. This brief report sought to describe the potential of 5-ALA and sodium-ferrous citrate (5-ALA/SFC) to ameliorate the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Areas Covered: : Studies have shown that 5-ALA is converted to protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), then to heme.