{"id":7395,"date":"2022-02-24T08:22:39","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T00:22:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/5-foods-to-combat-the-winter-blues-2\/"},"modified":"2025-04-14T15:36:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T07:36:01","slug":"how-nutrition-can-help-to-fight-against-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/how-nutrition-can-help-to-fight-against-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"How nutrition can help to fight against COVID-19 ?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_left wpb_content_element\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/thermometer-scaled.jpeg\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"thermometer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/thermometer-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/thermometer-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/thermometer-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/thermometer-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/thermometer-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>Nutrition is a critical part of optimizing your immune system to fight off viruses like COVID-19 and keep you healthy. But what about if you do get sick? In this article, we dive into the science behind how our nutrition status can help protect ourselves against developing severe symptoms and even potentially support the treatment of patients in hospitals.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/how-nutrition-can-help-to-fight-against-covid-19\/#Vitamin_C\" >Vitamin C<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/how-nutrition-can-help-to-fight-against-covid-19\/#Glutathione\" >Glutathione<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/how-nutrition-can-help-to-fight-against-covid-19\/#Vitamin_D\" >Vitamin D<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/how-nutrition-can-help-to-fight-against-covid-19\/#Selenium\" >Selenium<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/how-nutrition-can-help-to-fight-against-covid-19\/#N-acetyl-cysteine\" >N-acetyl-cysteine<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Vitamin_C\"><\/span><strong><u><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Vitamin C<\/span> <\/u><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Vitamin C is essential for various key elements of our immune defence against viruses. Studies have shown that Vitamin C can help the body recover faster from upper respiratory tract infections.<sup>1<\/sup> In addition, one study reported that up to <strong>82% of critically ill COVID-19 patients had low Vitamin C plasma levels<\/strong> (&lt;0.4 mg\/dL).<sup>2 <\/sup>While this is only correlational data, it suggests that Vitamin C could play an important role in preventing critically illness in COVID-19 patients.<\/p>\n<p>It is proposed that <strong>Vitamin C\u2019s <\/strong><strong>role in reducing the inflammatory response<\/strong> helps protect the lungs from injury and subsequent sepsis (widespread infection that can be highly fatal).<sup>3<\/sup> High doses of intravenous Vitamin C have even been used in certain countries as part of the treatment protocol for hospitalized COVID-19 patients and on-going trials are taking place to evaluate the role of high-dose IV vitamin C in COVID-19 treatment.<sup>4<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Glutathione\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><u>Glutathione<\/u><\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Like Vitamin C, glutathione is a potent antioxidant that helps modulate inflammation, especially in times of viral infection. During infection with COVID-19, the body\u2019s immune cells attack the invading virus, creating large amounts of oxidative stress. It is then the job of antioxidants to neutralize it before it damages the surrounding tissues. As the master antioxidant of the body, <strong>glutathione deficiency results in amplified oxidative stress<\/strong> due to compromised antioxidant defenses.<\/p>\n<p>One research study compared glutathione levels and oxidative stress in uninfected individuals versus hospitalized COVID-19 patients of all age groups. They found that the <strong>COVID-19 patients had severe glutathione deficiency, increased oxidative stress and elevated oxidant damage<\/strong>. These levels were particularly surprising in younger age groups, who naturally have higher glutathione levels.<sup>5<\/sup> Another similar study concluded, \u201celevated levels of oxidative stress and reduction of antioxidant indices can aggravate disease&#8217;s severity in hospitalised patients with COVID-19\u201d.<sup>6<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>As <strong>glutathione declines with age<\/strong>,<sup>7<\/sup> this correlation becomes even more pronounced in older patients, which could be a contributing factor for why COVID-19 can be more serious in older patients.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Vitamin_D\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><u>Vitamin D<\/u><\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Vitamin D receptors are found on every type of cell in the body. This means that its role is so multifaceted it\u2019s been linked to almost every health outcome. Interest in its role in immunity has been widespread ranging from autoimmune diseases, to cancer, to viral infections.<\/p>\n<p>In a ground-breaking 2021 study, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of Vitamin D3 supplementation as an acute treatment protocol for COVID-19 patients. When they took all the patients with low Vitamin D levels (25OHD &lt;30 ng\/m), they found that patients without the Vitamin D3 supplementation had a <strong>1.9-fold increased risk of having hospitalization longer than 8 days <\/strong>compared to those who did receive supplementation. Even more impressive was that<strong> treatment with Vitamin D decreased the mortality rate 2.14 times <\/strong>compared to those who didn\u2019t receive Vitamin D, even in the presence of comorbidities.<sup>8<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Scientists are still figuring out the mechanisms of actions (theories include Vitamin D\u2019s role in preventing anemia, regulating inflammation, preventing sepsis, stimulating immune pathways and more), but the researchers went so far as to state that Vitamin D supplementation is \u201cessential for COVID-19 treatment\u201d.<sup>8<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Selenium\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><u>Selenium<\/u><\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Selenium is an essential trace mineral found in soil. As with so many minerals, <strong>depleted soil can lower the levels of selenium in our produce<\/strong>, increasing the risk of deficiency. Despite being needed in small amounts, selenium is essential for immunity \u2013 it is involved in regulating oxidative stress, redox, and other crucial cellular processes, including those involved in innate and adaptive immune responses.<sup>9<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>In a large study from China involving 14,045 COVID-19 cases, <strong>fatality rates in selenium-deficient areas were 2.7 times higher<\/strong> than areas without selenium deficiency.<sup>10<\/sup> Although this correlation is based on the selenium content of the soil, it does warrant further research into how selenium can reduce COVID-19 fatalities and improve treatment outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"N-acetyl-cysteine\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><u>N-acetyl-cysteine<\/u><\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) has been shown to support the recovery of respiratory diseases, through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.<sup>11<\/sup> As a precursor of glutathione, NAC has been used to loosen thick mucus in the lungs, boost the immune system, suppress viral replication, and reduce inflammation.<sup>12<\/sup> Oral NAC (1200 mg\/d) in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia <strong>reduced the risk for mechanical ventilation and mortality<\/strong>, even in severe cases.<sup>11<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>In a larger cohort study, <strong>IV NAC significantly improved disease conditions in severe respirator-dependent COVID-19 patients<\/strong>. IV NAC appeared to work on multiple pathways to reduce inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin, and also improve lung functions.<sup>13<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/contact-us\/\">Contact us<\/a> to learn more about how to optimize your immune system against viral infection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>References:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Vorilhon P, Arpajou B, Vaillant Roussel H, Merlin \u00c9, Pereira B, Cabaillot A. Efficacy of vitamin C for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection. A meta-analysis in children [retracted in: Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2021 Jun;77(6):941].\u00a0<em>Eur J Clin Pharmacol<\/em>. 2019;75(3):303-311. doi:10.1007\/s00228-018-2601-7<\/li>\n<li>Tomasa-Irriguible, T.M., Bielsa-Berrocal, L. COVID-19: Up to 82% critically ill patients had low Vitamin C values.\u00a0<em>Nutr J<\/em>20<strong>,\u00a0<\/strong>66 (2021). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12937-021-00727-z<\/li>\n<li>Fisher BJ, Kraskauskas D, Martin EJ, et al. Mechanisms of attenuation of abdominal sepsis induced acute lung injury by ascorbic acid.\u00a0<em>Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol<\/em>. 2012;303(1):L20-L32. doi:10.1152\/ajplung.00300.2011<\/li>\n<li>gov. Vitamin C Infusion for the Treatment of Severe 2019-nCoV Infected Pneumonia. <a href=\"https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/ct2\/show\/NCT04264533\">https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/ct2\/show\/NCT04264533<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Premranjan Kumar, Ob Osahon, David B. Vides, Nicola Hanania, Charles G. Minard, Rajagopal V. Sekhar.\u00a0Severe Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress and Oxidant Damage in Adults Hospitalized with COVID-19: Implications for GlyNAC (Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine) Supplementation. <em>Antioxidants<\/em>, 2021; 11 (1): 50 DOI:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.3390\/antiox11010050\">3390\/antiox11010050<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Karkhanei B, Talebi Ghane E, Mehri F. Evaluation of oxidative stress level: total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status and glutathione activity in patients with COVID-19.\u00a0<em>New Microbes New Infect<\/em>. 2021;42:100897. doi:10.1016\/j.nmni.2021.100897<\/li>\n<li>Samiec PS, Drews-Botsch C, Flagg EW, et al. Glutathione in human plasma: decline in association with aging, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetes.\u00a0<em>Free Radic Biol Med<\/em>. 1998;24(5):699-704. doi:10.1016\/s0891-5849(97)00286-4<\/li>\n<li>G\u00f6nen MS, Alayl\u0131o\u011flu M, Durcan E, et al. Rapid and Effective Vitamin D Supplementation May Present Better Clinical Outcomes in COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Patients by Altering Serum INOS1, IL1B, IFNg, Cathelicidin-LL37, and ICAM1.\u00a0<em>Nutrients<\/em>. 2021;13(11):4047. Published 2021 Nov 12. doi:10.3390\/nu13114047<\/li>\n<li>Hoffmann PR, Berry MJ. The influence of selenium on immune responses.\u00a0<em>Mol Nutr Food Res<\/em>. 2008;52(11):1273-1280. doi:10.1002\/mnfr.200700330<\/li>\n<li>Zhang, HY., Zhang, AR., Lu, QB.\u00a0<em>et al.<\/em>Association between fatality rate of COVID-19 and selenium deficiency in China.\u00a0<em>BMC Infect Dis<\/em>\u00a0<strong>21,\u00a0<\/strong>452 (2021). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12879-021-06167-8<\/li>\n<li>Assimakopoulos SF, Aretha D, Komninos D, et al. N-acetyl-cysteine reduces the risk for mechanical ventilation and mortality in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: a two-center retrospective cohort study.\u00a0<em>Infect Dis (Lond)<\/em>. 2021;53(11):847-854. doi:10.1080\/23744235.2021.1945675<\/li>\n<li>Shi Z, Puyo CA. N-Acetylcysteine to Combat COVID-19: An Evidence Review.\u00a0<em>Ther Clin Risk Manag<\/em>. 2020;16:1047-1055. Published 2020 Nov 2. doi:10.2147\/TCRM.S273700<\/li>\n<li>Ibrahim H, Perl A, Smith D, et al. Therapeutic blockade of inflammation in severe COVID-19 infection with intravenous N-acetylcysteine.\u00a0<em>Clin Immunol<\/em>. 2020;219:108544. doi:10.1016\/j.clim.2020.108544<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nutrition is a critical part of optimizing your immune system to fight off viruses like COVID-19 and keep you healthy. But what about if you do get sick? In this article, we dive into the science behind how our nutrition status can help protect ourselves against developing severe symptoms and even potentially support the treatment [...]","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":7397,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[202,204],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biohacking","category-functional-medicine"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/thermometer-scaled.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7395"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8910,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7395\/revisions\/8910"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}