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The Delta variant continued to spread in the United States, prompting the public to seek the best ways to prevent themselves from contracting the highly transmissible strain of the coronavirus.
Health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) advise people to get vaccinated against COVID as a first line of defense.
But many people have sought alternative means of protection not recommended by health authorities, including the horse dewormer drug ivermectin, the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine, and even vitamins.
Many people take nutritional supplements such as vitamin C or zinc to strengthen their immune systems.
But according to the Mayo Clinic, “these supplements are unlikely to affect your immune function or prevent you from getting sick.”
Dr Sandra Adams, professor of biology and virologist at Montclair State University, told NJ Advance Media on Thursday that vitamins cannot stimulate an immune response large enough to prevent you from contracting COVID “or either of its variants “.
“Vitamins cannot prevent infection with the Delta variant,” Adams said. “Vitamins cannot interfere with any stage in the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus or any of its variants, and the vitamins would not be sufficient to stimulate the immune response to prevent the onset of the disease. . “
The Delta variant is currently responsible for 99% of all COVID cases, according to the CDC.
Davidson Harmer, professor of global health and medicine in the faculties of public health and medicine at Boston University, has spent decades researching the interactions between nutrition and infection and the importance of micronutrients for immune function. .
Harmer told Newsweek that while taking vitamins and minerals is important for maintaining immune function, there is no evidence that taking vitamins will protect an individual from catching COVID-19.
“There is evidence that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection [The virus that causes COVID-19], Harmer told Newsweek. “However, the limited studies that have evaluated vitamin D supplements to try to avoid infection have shown no benefit.”
Related stories on the Delta variant and COVID:
When can children under 12 get the COVID vaccine?
Symptoms of the Delta variant to watch out for if you are fully vaccinated
Unvaccinated people 11 times more likely to die from COVID, CDC says
Is it safe to get the flu shot and get the COVID shot at the same time?
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Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at [email protected]. Do you have any advice? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
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