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Nutraceutical Guide for Covid-19

Supplements can help to optimize nutrient status and improve immune function.

Specific vitamins and minerals have immune supportive and anti-viral properties.

Taking supplements helps to optimize nutrients that influence immune function.

For those that are at higher risk of infection due to age or an underlying condition, specific supplements may be even more important in providing an additional layer of protection.

What role do supplements play in supporting the immune system?

Your body knows how to fight a virus. The immune system is a complex system of organs, tissues and cells throughout the body that communicate and work together to protect you from what is not you.

It includes the skin, mucous membranes, and the digestive system that create barriers allowing nutrients to get in and keep pathogens out. It also includes innate immunity, which is your general defense against invaders and acquired immunity where your body creates antibodies to a specific microbe. All of this requires various nutrients, in good supply, so that each part of the system can do its job effectively.

Eating a healthy, nutrient dense diet is a great start, however, most diets are lacking
the vitamins and minerals necessary to reach optimal status.

Bottom Line: Most of us need more of many nutrients. Using high quality supplements is a great way to cover your bases and improve the structure and function of systems throughout the body.

Many clinical studies are being done on the roles that these compounds have on preventing or reducing the impact of Covid-19. Based on the research available, here is a list of supplements that may be useful in the prevention as well as potentially inhibiting the replication of this virus.

Recommendations

ZINC

Zinc is a critical nutrient for the immune system, and one that those most at risk for COVID-19, including the elderly, tend to be deficient in.
Zinc functions in both the innate (first line of defense) and adaptive immune systems and even suppresses viral attachment, playing a role in fighting respiratory infections. For these reasons, zinc is a key player in the protocol used in COVID-19 treatment.
As we age, zinc status tends to go down for a variety of factors including not eating enough zinc-rich foods like grass-fed beef, oysters and pumpkin seeds.
In addition, stomach acid tends to decline with age making it harder to digest protein and extract the minerals from these foods.
Did you know that zinc also plays a role in our sense of taste? When we are deficient in zinc we can’t taste our food as well and might go for more salty, sweet or processed options.
Interestingly, a loss of taste and smell is a documented symptom of COVID-19 and in some cases is the first, or only, sign of the disease.

 

Reference:

Treatment with Zinc is Associated with Reduced In-Hospital Mortality Among COVID-19 Patients: A Multi-Center Cohort Study

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is often thought of in terms of bone health, but it is also critically important for the immune system to be able to do its job.
Some preliminary research makes the link between low vitamin D levels and the severity of COVID-19 outcomes.
Lower vitamin D levels are also linked to an increased susceptibility to infection and higher levels may protect against auto-immune diseases.
The standard vitamin D recommendations (600IU per day) are woefully low for maintaining optimal blood levels between 50 and 80 ng/mL, the recommended levels for prevention of COVID-19 infection and complications.
The best course of action is to have your vitamin D levels checked every year and adjust supplementation accordingly.
In absence of testing, I suggest following the Institute for Functional Medicine recommendations and supplementing with 5000 IU per day.

 

Reference:

Evidence Regarding Vitamin D and Risk of COVID-19 and Its Severity

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and immune supportive properties. It contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functions of the immune system.
The coronavirus and other severe acute respiratory illnesses increase oxidative stress in the body which can lead to cellular and tissue damage. High-doses of vitamin C have been shown to be a safe, effective, and valuable therapeutic agent for respiratory infections.
Since this essential vitamin is not synthesized in the body we either need to ingest from food, or take as a supplement.

 

Reference:

Possible application of high-dose vitamin C in the prevention and therapy of coronavirus infection

Quercetin

Quercetin is a flavonoid found in a variety of foods (including the herbs cilantro and dill as well as onions, kale, cranberries, and capers). It is a natural zinc ionophore. Zinc-ionophores transport the zinc in and out of the cell and can increase the effects of zinc in the cell.

It is well recognized that zinc is an essential trace element, influencing growth and affecting the development and integrity of the immune system, and that severe zinc deficiency depresses immune function.

 

Reference:

Zinc ionophore activity of quercetin and epigallocatechin-gallate: from Hepa 1-6 cells to a liposome model

Omegas/fish oil

Omega-3 fatty acids are required for a number of body functions, from proper blood flow to brain development.
These long-chain fatty acids are integral components of tissues and organ systems throughout the body, including the heart, skin, joints, eyes and immune system. Recent research suggests that EPA and DHA supplementation is potentially beneficial in managing inflammation or “cytokine storm” in Coronavirus disease.

 

Reference:

The Potential Beneficial Effect of EPA and DHA Supplementation Managing Cytokine Storm in Coronavirus Disease

Probiotics

Probiotics support nutrient absorption, help maintain a healthy balance of organisms in the intestinal tract, and support immune function.
The microbiome is a key factor in building immune resilience and an imbalance is associated with developing inappropriate immune responses.
Gut issues are often one of the root causes to symptoms and disease, including immune diseases.
Probiotics help to restore gut health and microbial balance, which in turn fosters the foundation for resilient immunity.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutraceutical with antiviral and antimicrobial properties. It has been studied for its therapeutic potential against viruses that are responsible for severe respiratory infections or pneumonia like the influenza virus, and Covid-19.The anti-inflammatory benefits may be potentially valuable to the severe virus-associated complications that are related to the overactivation of the host-immune response, known as the cytokine storm.

 

Reference:

Therapeutic potential of resveratrol against emerging respiratory viral infections

Curcumin

A review of numerous studies confirm how curcumin may inhibit a number of different molecules that play a role in inflammation.

Curcumin supports immune function, intestinal health, detoxification, healthy aging, mental health, joint health, cardiovascular health and pain management.
It’s also an important antioxidant compound that fights free radicals throughout the body.
The liposomal form offers greatest absorption and bioavailability.

 

Reference:

Potential effects of curcumin in the treatment of COVID-19 infection

Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide (NO) is an antimicrobial molecule with key roles in pulmonary vascular function in the context of viral infections and other pulmonary diseases.

 

Reference:

Nitric Oxide May Slow Progression of COVID-19

Glutathione

Glutathione is the body’s master antioxidant, important for protecting cells from the damage caused by viruses and other infections.
Glutathione also plays a key role in detoxification and immune health.
Glutathione deficiency has been linked to serious illness from COVID-19 and glutathione therapy is potentially a beneficial treatment during the illness and throughout recovery.
Internally, I recommend liposomal glutathione for the best bioavailability. Glutathione can also be nebulized for direct effect on the lungs.
To amplify the effect of glutathione, build your sulfur pool by eating at least 1 serving of cruciferous veggies daily such as broccoli, arugula, cabbage or cauliflower.

 

Reference:

Endogenous Deficiency of Glutathione as the Most Likely Cause of Serious Manifestations and Death in COVID-19 Patients

Magnesium

Magnesium is a truly magical mineral and helps facilitate over 300 chemical reactions in the body. Magnesium supports cardiovascular health, muscles, nerves, bones, mood, brain health and metabolism.
Based on magnesium’s many functions, it plays an important role in prevention and treatment of many diseases. Low levels of magnesium have been also associated with a number of chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

 

Reference:

Role of cellular magnesium in health and human disease

Other / Botanicals

L-lysine, vitamins A and C, pantothenic acid and B12 plus botanical extracts like black elderberry, astragalus, echinacea, and andrographis, all of which have been used traditionally for their clinically effective immune- modulating properties.

 

Reference:

The effect of herbal remedies on the production of human inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines

Immunomodulatory and antimicrobial effects of some traditional chinese medicinal herbs: a review

To download Dr. Shippy’s dosing protocol for her preventative and therapeutic protocols

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