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In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, several rumors on the Internet associate the cure of the disease with vitamins, although there are no scientific studies that suggest that the disease caused by the Sars-Cov-2 virus can be cured with any food, or even with action. of any of the drugs under study to combat it.
In the United States, the Indian-American scientist Shiva Ayyadurai, 56, was enraged when he said that a few vitamins were enough for the body to kill the coronavirus. His claims also had repercussions on the right-wing social networks in Brazil.
If there are no miracles in the bottles of vitamin complexes sold in pharmacies, maintaining a varied and vitamin-rich diet contributes to the proper functioning of the immune system and to the protection of the body against infections.
Silvia Cozzolino, professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and researcher at the Food Research Center of USP, highlights the role of zinc, a mineral found in oysters, shellfish and other sources of animal origin and which is important for the growth, metabolic reactions and, mainly for the defense of the organism.
“It is the most important from the point of view of the immune system. More than 500 thousand enzymes depend on zinc for their functioning, “he says, adding that vegetarians generally have low values in the body and that supplementation is recommended in these cases.
The president of the Federal District Nutrition Association, Glaucia Rodrigues Medeiros, adds that zinc deficiency, in addition to damaging growth, also affects the immune response and the respiratory system. However, if consumption is excessive, it can affect the absorption of other minerals, such as copper and iron, in addition to causing changes in the nervous system, experts say.
“It is important for people to know that there is no published study that says this or that nutrient will bring a cure for the disease,” says Medeiros, saying that all that can be said is that a healthy immune system is necessary to combat any virus. .
“We have to think that viruses are opportunistic and will manifest in people whose immune systems are weakened”; Micronutrients, she says, optimize immune functions.
Vitamins A and D also play a role in the defense of the body. Medeiros highlights the antioxidant action of vitamin A, present in offal, liver, dark green vegetables and orange vegetables, such as carrots. It is this action that helps immunity, in addition to contributing to the formation of teeth, collagen and the improvement of vision.
Cozzolino adds that zinc is also important in this: it transports vitamin A in the body. Therefore, if the mineral is missing, the absorption of the vitamin is also compromised. Vitamin deficiency can even lead to blindness, especially in children, in addition to decreasing the activity of defense cells.
However, the USP professor says that supplementation of this vitamin is not indicated for the elderly, since its excess is not eliminated by the body. As adverse effects of excess vitamins, Medeiros highlights dry skin, hair loss and body pain.
Vitamin D is another champion on the Internet for its supposed benefits for the immune system.
Its main function is the distribution of calcium in the bones, but it acts in more than 200 functions in the body, says Medeiros, who also highlights the role it really plays in the immune system. “There are several studies linking vitamin D deficiency with autoimmune diseases. Lack of it can increase inflammation in the body, “he says.
Nutritionists note that the vitamin is produced by the body from exposure to sunlight, only 15 minutes a day to ensure the recommended dose for young people, says Cozzolino. She explains that in the elderly, the synthesis of vitamins is less; therefore, deficiency is more common in them.
Sources of vitamin D include cod liver oil, fish, sardines, eggs, tuna, and offal. Like vitamin A, its excess is not eliminated from the body, and one of the adverse effects is the calcification of tissues by the body, Medeiros explains.
Professor Cozzolino recalls that vitamin C and vitamin E, present in citrus fruits and vegetable oils, respectively, as well as selenium, found in Brazil nuts, are also important for the immune system.
It recommends supplementation in the case of the elderly, but at low values, close to the daily intake, since several factors, such as the higher intake of medications in this age group, compromise the absorption of nutrients.
Medeiros believes that even in these cases, it is advisable to consult a nutritionist to ensure that all missing nutrients are replaced. “Lack of the vitamin is harmful to the body, but so is too much. The ideal is to always balance, “he says.
Technical consultant of the Brazilian Nutrition Association, points out that it is important to give preference to the consumption of foods without preservatives and not industrialized and to remember that nutrients are complementary to each other.
“A nutrient does not have a unique action on the body and it also needs others to work properly. We need to work in the context of general health. “
