We all know When President Donald Trump was diagnosed with COVID-19, his pill arsenal included Vitamin D and zinc.
In an Instagram chat with actress Jennifer Garner in September, infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci touted vitamins C and D as ways that might generally boost the immune system. “If you’re deficient in vitamin D,” he noted, “that does have an impact on your susceptibility to infection. I would not mind recommending, and I do it myself, taking vitamin D supplements.”
Here’s what we
know about five supplements getting plenty of attention around COVID-19:
1- Vitamin D
Vitamin D,
commonly known for its role in bone health, also helps make proteins that kill
viruses and bacteria, especially in the respiratory tract.
It is Called “the sunshine vitamin” because the body makes it naturally in the presence of ultraviolet light, Vitamin D is one of the most heavily studied supplements.
Benefits were
greatest when people took vitamin D daily or weekly, rather in a single large
dose, echoing the findings of other studies.
2- Potassium
Potassium won’t prevent COVID-19 but could play a life-saving role in treating it. The new coronavirus causes low potassium levels because it blocks an enzyme called ACE2 that regulates blood pressure by balancing potassium and sodium.
Potassium loss can be especially severe in
COVID-19 patients with heart disease or high blood pressure.
Experts recommend getting potassium from food instead of supplements, which could be dangerous for certain groups of people, including (but not limited to) those with kidney or heart disease and those who take particular blood pressure medications.
Potatoes, lentils, beans, squash and dried fruit are good sources.
3- Zinc
Zinc, a mineral
found in cells all over the body, is found naturally in certain meats, beans and
oysters.
It plays several
supportive roles in the immune system, which is why zinc lozenges are always
hot sellers in cold and flu season. Zinc also helps with cell division and
growth.
Decades of research have shown that zinc lozenges can shorten colds by 20% to 40%. This seems to hold true for both low and high doses 80 mg to over 200 mg a day and for different forms, including gluconate, sulfate, acetate and picolinate.
Read more: The vitamin that can save your life
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Read also: Vitamin B6 deficiency and Covid-19
Zinc works best if you start it at the first sign of symptoms. Doctors are taking a closer look at zinc for COVID-19, too.
4- Vitamin C
vitamin C has a
long list of roles in the body. It’s found naturally in fruits and vegetables,
especially citrus, peppers and tomatoes.
It’s a potent
antioxidant that’s important for a healthy immune system and preventing
inflammation.
Nobel
Prize-winner Linus Pauling championed vitamin C as a cold cure decades ago, but
research remains mixed. Some studies suggest that taking 500 mg twice daily can
help prevent colds but not cure them.
There’s some evidence that it may help with certain symptoms that develop in critically ill patients with COVID-19 (such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis).
Doctors in China are experimenting with intravenous vitamin C for
patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. While vitamin C doesn’t build up in
your body, a daily dose of 2,000 mg or more could cause diarrhea.
Read more: 7 ways to increase your blood Oxygen
5- Probiotics
There’s evidence
in both animals and humans that probiotics containing Bifidobacterium and
Lactobacillus strains can improve your immune response to viruses and reduce
the severity and duration of respiratory infections.
You can find
probiotics in kefir, yogurt and fermented foods like miso and sauerkraut (look
for unpasteurized products sold in the refrigerated sections of your
supermarket). But supplements are probably the best way to get the amount
needed to fight infections.
Warning: Talk to your
doctor before starting any vitamin, mineral or supplement – especially at
higher than recommended daily doses.
Read more: Comparing vaccines: country of origin, safety, efficacy, and approval
To prevent the
illness, take precautions, such as washing the hands frequently, wearing a
face-covering in public, and staying away from others. Isolating is especially
crucial for people who feel ill.
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