Doctors remain focused on finding a treatment to slow or stop the deadly immune response to COVID-19, known as a “cytokine storm.” If they do, experts in the nutrition world aim to find ways to stop it before it starts. Earlier in the pandemic, these recommendations from health experts focused on vitamin C and vitamin D, both of which can significantly boost the immune system.
But now, in a new study published in the international peer-reviewed journal Maturitas, researchers suggest that another, equally important vitamin be overlooked: vitamin B.
The study, a joint collaboration between researchers at the University of Oxford, University of the United Arab Emirates and the University of Melbourne, called for more analysis of its effects on patients with COVID-19. “Vitamin B … plays an important role in self-functioning, energy metabolism and good immune function,” the authors write. “Vitamin B helps in the proper activation of both the congenital and adaptive immune responses, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, improves respiratory function, maintains endothelial integrity, prevents hypercoagulability and can reduce the length of hospital stay.”
While the study itself did not analyze the effects of vitamin B on COVID-19 patients, the authors say existing evidence on how it works suggests that it would be extremely beneficial. “Vitamin B not only helps to build and maintain a healthy immune system, but it can potentially prevent or reduce COVID-19 symptoms or treat SARS-CoV-2 infection,” they write. “Poor nutritional status makes people more susceptible to infections; therefore, a balanced diet is necessary for immunocompetence. ”
Overall, they conclude that vitamin B “should be considered” in COVID-19 patients as a potential non-pharmaceutical “supplement to current treatments.”
So what is vitamin B exactly?
Vitamin B complex – consisting of eight different essential species, including B-2 (riboflavin), B-6 and B-12 – affects many parts of the body, helps with critical functions such as vision, red blood cell growth, good digestion , energy levels, heart health, and brain and nerve function. B vitamins can be found in a variety of foods, including red meat, beans, milk, cheese, broccoli, spinach, avocados and brown rice.
Despite the availability of vitamin B-rich foods, many Americans may be deficient in this nutrient – and may not even know it. According to a Harvard University blog post, with the National Surgery and Nutrition Examination Survey, “3.2 percent of adults over the age of 50 have a seriously low B12 level” and “up to 20 percent may have a borderline vitamin B12 deficiency.”
A deficiency in certain strains, such as vitamin B12, can be serious, resulting in an insufficient number of healthy red blood cells, which are used to fight infection. Symptoms of vitamin B deficiency can range from fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness to personality changes, muscle weakness and unstable movements.
Do other experts agree that vitamin B can be useful?
Dr. Uma Naidoo, a nutritionist at Harvard Medical School and director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, calls for caution in interpreting the results – which net intended to suggest that vitamin B may prevent or treat COVID-19. But still, she agrees that it can have great benefits.
“You can think of the immune system as an army. Their job is to protect the body. But if the immune system’s army is not properly regulated, it can overreact and actually cause more damage – this overreaction is what often happens in COVID-19 and is referred to as the cytokine storm, “Naidoo tells Yahoo Life.” Cytokines are inflammatory molecules released by immune cells.They are like the weapons of the army of the immune system.So when immune cells are soldiers, cytokines are guns and grenades.And in a poorly regulated immune system the cytokine storm of the body caused by COVID causes a lot of inflammation in the body, just like small grenades were thrown around. This is what causes the worst results and death in COVID. “
Naidoo – along with her co-researcher Nicholas Norwitz, a PhD student at Oxford University – thinks vitamin B may have an effect. “It follows that anything that improves the functioning of the immune system and reduces the chance of an infected person having a catastrophic cytokine storm can improve the outcome of COVID-19 cases and reduce the overall death rate,” says Naidoo. “Therefore, it is quite reasonable that supplementation with B-vitamin can help prevent the worst COVID outcomes.”
While the news may be promising, more research is needed on the subject – and individuals should consult their doctor before adding supplements to their diet. But until then, Naidoo hopes the research will be a reminder of how important it is to have a balanced diet. “All Americans need to focus on their overall metabolic health to improve their individual chances of getting on well with the virus …,” she says. “To this end, our daily nutritional basics are critical.”
For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow up https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised are most at risk. If you have any questions, please refer to the CDCs en WHO’s resource guides.
Read more from Yahoo Life
Do you want to deliver daily lifestyle and wellness news to your inbox? Sign up here for the Yahoo Life newsletter.
