The coronavirus is such an insecure disease that most of us are willing to do anything in our power to protect ourselves from being detected by the virus – or at least to ward off a serious matter. That’s why so many people have turned to vitamins and supplements as a natural way to boost their immune system in the fight against COVID. Unfortunately, it can only be wishful thinking. A new study published on February 12 in JAMA Network open just confirmed that certain common vitamins will not stop your COVID symptoms after all. Read on to find out which vitamins according to researchers will not actually help you, and for vitamins you should take, these 3 vitamins can save you from serious COVID, study findings.
Researchers for this study collected 214 coronavirus patients who recovered from COVID at home. At random, some subjects were assigned to receive ten-day high doses of zinc, vitamin C, or both supplements. The other patients received no supplements and only standard care, such as rest, hydration and medication that reduces fever. However, the study was discontinued early because the researchers saw ‘no significant difference’ in the reduction of symptoms in those who received one or two supplements compared to those who did not receive any supplements.
“Unfortunately, these two supplements did not live up to their hype,” Erin Michos, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University of Medicine and Miguel Cainzos-Achirica, MD, an associate director of preventative cardiology research at Houston Methodist, wrote in a statement accompanying the study. And for more ways you are not protected, the FDA says so immediately when you see it on your mask.
There was not only evidence that these supplements help those infected with COVID – patients using vitamin C and zinc have reported unpleasant side effects. “More adverse effects (nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramps) have been reported in the supplement groups than in the regular care group,” Michos and Cainzo-Achirica wrote in their statement.
According to the researchers, zinc can produce a metallic taste, dry mouth and gastrointestinal intolerance if given in high doses. High doses of vitamin C can also cause gastrointestinal intolerance – which was explicitly seen in this study because a higher percentage of patients receiving the large dose of vitamin C reported nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramps. And for more reactions to note: if you have these side effects against vaccines, you should not get a shot again, says CDC.
Both vitamin C and zinc are over-the-counter supplements that help boost the immune system, which is why some experts have suggested them as possible treatments in the fight against COVID, the authors said. Even former president Donald Trump apparently received zinc to treat his coronavirus symptoms, according to a report by The New York Times.
But in general, research on the intake of these supplements to help infections is still uncertain. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), vitamin C supplements do not reduce the risk of catching colds for most people. However, people who take vitamin C regularly may have slightly shorter colds or slightly milder symptoms if they catch a cold. As far as zinc is concerned, the institute says that research has been conflicting and that this supplement can only be beneficial “under certain circumstances” against the common cold. And sign up for our daily newsletter for more information.
While vitamin C and zinc may be out of the picture when it comes to COVID health, other vitamins are still being investigated. In fact, a January study was published in Applied Chemistry, the journal of the German Chemical Society, found that three common vitamins can help severe cases of COVID: vitamin D, vitamin K and vitamin A. Other research has found that those with lower vitamin K levels are more likely to be hospitalized taken up with severe COVID, while there is no vitamin D, it may in the first place be more likely that someone becomes infected.
This research had a COVID adviser from the White House Anthony Fauci, MD, which suggests the importance of maintaining adequate vitamin levels. “If you have a vitamin D deficiency, it affects your susceptibility to infection. I would not mind recommending – and I do myself – taking vitamin D supplements,” Fauci said. said during an Instagram Live interview with the actor. Jennifer Garner in September 2020. And for more expert insight, says dr. Fauci, it’s the COVID symptoms that do not go away.