Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
A new report published in the Irish Medical Journal reports that Vitamin D supplements may aid in the resistance of respiratory infections, such as the coronavirus or limit the severity of the illness in those infected, according to researchers.
According to The Council for Responsible Nutrition UK, the ongoing threat of the Coronavirus could increase the potential for deficiencies in key nutrients, supporting the immune system.
Written by Jerry Hickey, Ph.
With so much information available on COVID-19 and immune health in general, it may be difficult to fully understand what is going on around us today. Here is some important information on what is going on inside of our bodies by our immune system and some of my nutritional recommendations to keep yourself safe and healthy.
Immunity 101
The immune system is complex and many cells are used to achieve different functions. Some cells attack infectious organisms or cancer cells, other cells govern the fight, while others calm down the activated immune system cells once an infection is over; otherwise you have persistent and damaging inflammation.
The various immune system cells are always communicating with one-another to achieve this. The messengers they use are called cytokines. Some cytokines strongly activate the immune system; they are called pro-inflammatory cytokines. Dominant ones are TNF-Alpha, IL-6 (interleukin-6) and IL-1. Some cytokines deactivate the immune system; they are anti-inflammatory cytokines. A great example would be IL-10.
Learn more about COVID-19 by listening to our latest podcast episode >>
What is happening in our bodies when a virus attacks?
In SARS, MERS, COVID-19, Ebola Virus and Sepsis the virus attacks the lungs and the inflammation triggered by the virus results in pneumonia and fluid building up in the lining of the lungs. In some patients, there is a ferocious counterattack by the immune system in their lungs. It strongly destroys lung tissue and can attack the heart also. This is called Cytokine Storm and is a major part of sepsis where organs shut down. Lung and heart damage can be permanent.
The cytokine storm form bacteria, which is largely neutrophils varies from that of viruses, so one size does not suit all. The dominant cytokines in this event for COVID-19 include TNF-Alpha, IL-6, and IL-1.
How the Coronavirus is impacting our lungs. Click here for more information >>
Nutritional Recommendations
The good news is, there are some nutrients that can support a healthy immune and respiratory system. These a nutrients that are backed by clinical trials and studies, and I greatly recommend them in this time of need.
Resveratrol to support the strength of the lungs†
I would recommend two Resveratrol Hx 100mg once or twice a day (breakfast and dinner).
Ubiquinol to support heart health and protect the lungs†
I would recommend one Ubiquinol 120mg with NADH two or three times a day with meals, depending on the clients age and overall health.
A superior Multivitamin formula or Macula Formula to further enhance lung and immune protection, especially when the formulations include the activated MTHF, Tocotrienols, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Astaxanthin, Vitamins C, Beta-Carotene and Zinc.†
Respiratory supporting nutrients like Black Seed with Rosemary, Quercetin and Krill oil.
If they have trouble getting fresh fruits and vegetables due to high demand, superfood powders are a great option. They contain formulations of essential vitamins, minerals, herbs, fruits and vegetables to support immunity, energy and overall wellness.
It’s March and it should be a bit past the peak flu and virus season, but the Coronavirus has changed all of that. Let’s talk about Zinc – a superior mineral for a healthy immune system.
With the widespread of the Coronavirus, it seems that everyone is looking to stock up on products that can help them in the long run. The good news is that there are five essential immune-boosting nutrients that you should stock up on this season.
Immune system supplements with specially formulated, clinically studied non-GMO ingredients can support a strong and powerful immune system. Here are the top four immunity products you need this season, from our degreed healthcare professionals.
Green Tea
After water, green tea (along with its white and black variants) from the Camellia sinesis shrub, is the most consumed beverage in the world. The tea plant is rich in valuable antioxidants known as polyphenols. The polyphenols in green tea are called catechins, of which EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) is the most active and well known. This time of year, green tea piques the interest of anyone looking to keep the flu at bay, and the evidence is impressive.
When you need a simple and effective immune boost, look towards green tea. This mighty leaf strengthens and supports the immune system in several significant ways. Green tea has long been recognized as having powerful antiviral properties. According to study performed by the National Institute of Health in Japan, tea actually alters the structure of the virus itself, which suppresses the ability of the virus to cause an infection. EGCG has the ability to attach to the cell membrane of the flu virus. EGCG binds to a glycoprotein on the flu virus called hemagglutinin, which blocks the ability of the virus to infect other cells.
Probiotic
Humans have about two pounds of bacteria in the intestines. Probiotic refers to healthy bacterial strains that are required for overall health, digestion and immunity. But poor food choices, illness, intestinal inflammation, toxins, and even weight gain can throw the levels of good bacteria off, allowing the overgrowth of dangerous species.
Daily supplementation with the friendly intestinal bacterium Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus boosts the immune health of children preventing many infections, according to research. The researchers from a Taiwanese report that supplements of the probiotic led to an 18% reduction in the incidence of viral infections and a 17% reduction in the incidence of respiratory infections according to the study that included 986 children under the age of five. The children were placed on either “no bacteria”, the one strain, or a combination of 12 bacterial strains (seven species of Lactobacillus, three types of bifidobacteria, one type of Streptococcus, and one type of Enterococcus). Significant reductions in bacterial infections were observed in the single strain (1.8 times) groups, but no reductions were observed in the multiple strain group. However, there was a reduction in gastrointestinal diseases observed in the multiple strain group with a 44% decrease in long-term digestive tract illness with little effect in the single-bacterial strain group. The study is published in the February 11th, 2009 issue of the journal Vaccine.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a common immune supporting nutrient, whether it is obtained by food or supplementation. Here’s what a 2017 report from the journal Nutrients released:
Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient for humans. Vitamin C contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system. Vitamin C supports epithelial barrier function against pathogens and promotes the oxidant scavenging activity of the skin, thereby potentially protecting against environmental oxidative stress. Vitamin C deficiency results in impaired immunity and higher susceptibility to infections. In turn, infections significantly impact on vitamin C levels due to enhanced inflammation and metabolic requirements. Furthermore, supplementation with vitamin C appears to be able to both prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections.
Zinc
The mineral Zinc plays an important role in immunity and healing and it is also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. In developed countries, nearly 30% of the elderly are zinc deficient, with many others having low levels of zinc, but not to the level of deficiency.
In a previous study, researchers from the Department of Medical Oncology at Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit report that studies where the elderly are supplemented with zinc have shown decreased numbers of infections, improved antioxidant activity (decreased oxidative stress or internal rusting), and decreased generation of inflammatory cytokines (biochemical molecules that increase inflammation). There are also decreased incidences of blindness in patients with age-related macular degeneration and increased protection against hardening of the arteries (atherogenesis) observed in the zinc supplemented elderly. Zinc is a molecular signal for proper function of immune cells and many gene-related factors involved in the release of inflammatory cytokines are regulated by zinc. *The study is published in the August 2014 issue of the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology.
In this new study, researchers from the USDA Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, along with researchers from the Section of Infectious Diseases and Section of Geriatrics at Boston University School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Boston University School of Public Health enrolled 53 nursing home residents aged 65 or older. Thirty-one (58%) had a low concentration of zinc in their serum. They were randomly split into two groups -one received 5mg of zinc a day and the other received 30mg of zinc a day for three months. For some, 30mg a day was not a sufficient enough dosage to raise serum zinc levels to normal.
Zinc supplementation of 30mg a day significantly improved the number of T-cells, however. T cells are a group of lymphocytes that play a large role in our immune systems response and especially for cell-mediated immunity. This is the defense against tumor cells and dangerous organisms that occur inside body cells and every effective immune response involves T cell activation. The abbreviation “T” stands for thymus, the organ in which the cells final stage of development occurs. The study is published in the January 27th, 2016 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.