Zinc
Support Your Immune System During the Pandemic by Dr. Veena Verma-Dzik
W
ith the state of uncertainty that lingers in the air surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a good time to get a better handle on our health. In absence of a treatment, it is wise to make use of alternative methods to help lessen chances of contracting the infection and decreasing its severity if we, unfortunately, become infected. The Harvard School of Public Health supports depending on good quality supplements to help reduce the risk of infection. Here is a quick run-through of a few of the supplements that peer-reviewed studies deem helpful for supporting the immune system.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D3 deficiency is common in many health conditions, including chronic illnesses, many types of cancer, autoimmune diseases, HIV, coagulopathy, advanced age and morbidity. In fact, one study showed that 84% of ICU patients 22
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with COVID had insufficient vitamin D levels. In our immune system, vitamin D helps turn on infection-fighting cells, such as monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells, via vitamin D receptors (VDR) located on the cells. Vitamin D also induces antimicrobial peptides, defensins and cathelicidins, which decrease the rate of viral replication, increase anti-inflammatory cytokines and reduce concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which have been associated with injuring the lungs. Studies show that vitamin D’s antiviral mechanism may further be due to its ability to up-regulate peptides LL-37 and human beta defensin 2.
Vitamin C
Clinical trials are being conducted on the use of intravenous vitamin C for supportive care for COVID-19 patients; it seems to decrease the duration of the stay in ICU and the need for mechanical ventilation.
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Zinc also has been used for a long time for treating colds and flus. It has been shown to decrease the rate of acute respiratory infections, shorten the duration of flu-like symptoms and improve recovery time. Its antiviral effects are due to its ability to inhibit RNA-dependent RNA polymerases and other proteins that are essential for viral replication.
Monolaurin
Monolaurin is derived from lauric acid, which is found in coconut oil. It has a broad spectrum of activity, and studies have shown it to be effective against staph infections, E.coli, bacillus, candida and gram negative bacteria such as h. pylori. It also has demonstrated antiviral properties against influenza, pneumovirus, EBV, HSV and HIV. When it comes to viral infections, it binds to the viral envelope causing it to disintegrate, inhibits late stage viral maturation and prevents binding of the virus to the host cell. It is currently being studied in clinical trials for its anti-HIV properties.
Quercetin
Quercetin is a type of polyphenol known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Polyphenols regulate immunity by interfering with pro-inflammatory cytokines’ synthesis, inactivating NF kappa B, inhibiting ROS, modulating mitogenactivated protein kinases (MAPK) and more. Quercetin has been found to inhibit
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There are over 60,000 studies on vitamin C in PubMed, and its antiviral actions actually were discovered more than 80 years ago when scientists were researching poliomyelitis. Vitamin C is present within white blood cells and macrophages, supporting their proliferation and functioning, and enhances neutrophil phagocytosis. By restoring cellular antioxidants and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), it can ameliorate viral-induced oxidative injury. Further, vitamin C immunomodulates by increasing alpha and beta interferons, inhibiting TNF alpha, and blocking NF kappa B, which plays a critical role in the pro-inflammatory response.
