This vitamin could be ‘essential’ against COVID, new research finds

With no vaccine or approved treatment for the coronavirus currently available, researchers have been looking for clues about anything that could reduce the severity of the virus. Even without a major pharmaceutical breakthrough, several studies have shown that certain vitamins could be vital in the fight against COVID, with research highlighting that a sufficient amount of vitamin D could potentially provide vital benefits. Now, thanks to a recently released report, it looks like you can add B vitamins to this list as well, with researchers claiming they could be ‘essential’ against the coronavirus.

The new research, which was published in the medical journal Maturity, cites the importance of multiple B vitamins to keep the immune system in top shape and help fight potentially dangerous inflammation. “Vitamin B not only helps build and maintain a healthy immune system, but it could potentially prevent or reduce symptoms of COVID-19 or treat infection with SARS-CoV-2“, Write the authors of the report.” Therefore, vitamin B status should be assessed in patients with COVID-19 and vitamin B could be used as a non-pharmaceutical adjunct to current treatments.

The authors add that vitamin B “plays a central role in cell function, energy metabolism and proper immune function,” noting that it helps maintain the body’s cytokine levels, improve respiratory function, and maintain blood pressure. strength of blood vessels and prevent blood clotting. problems. Additionally, B vitamins “may shorten the length of hospital stay,” they note.

Since the new coronavirus is primarily a respiratory virus that attacks the lungs (as well as other organs), causes problems with inflammation, and results in blood clotting, it is clear that B vitamins have very useful qualities. To find out which ones in particular and how you can incorporate more of them into your diet, read on. And to learn more about the effects of COVID-19, check out Here are the 51 most common COVID symptoms you may have.

The report notes that B1 improves immune function, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, and may help maintain healthy blood oxygen levels.

And this is essential, because type 2 diabetes has been shown to be one of the biggest risk factors in terms of COVID mortality. A French study published in the journal Diabetology in May, 10% of people with diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19 died within seven days of admission. Additionally, low blood oxygen levels have been a symptom of the virus, with nearly 20% of COVID patients in a recent study reporting blood oxygen levels below 95%. And for more on how to monitor this, check out Why You Need a Home Pulse Oximeter With Coronavirus.

With UV light, riboflavin has been shown to be effective against the MERS coronavirus, “suggesting that it may also be useful against SARS-CoV-2,” the researchers write.

B3 helps fight inflammation, which is a major problem with COVID. Many patients with severe COVID-19 experience severe lung damage caused by the body’s aggressive immune response via cytokine overproduction, AKA those cytokine storms you’ve read. This is when your immune system begins to attack your cells rather than the virus itself. And for more on how COVID affects your ability to breathe, check out This is what the coronavirus does to your lungs.

B5 also has the ability to reduce inflammation and improve mental health, the researchers note. And both of these factors are extremely important for COVID-19 survival. And for more on the latter, check out Doing these activities for 30 minutes a day makes you happier, according to the study.

Low levels of pyridoxine “Have been noted in patients with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and in the elderly, groups that have a higher risk of poorer outcomes for COVID-19,” the researchers write. Supplementing your diet with this vitamin “eases the symptoms of COVID-19” by regulating your body’s immune response and lowering cytokines, they add.

Folic acid helps in the production of enzymes which is vital in fighting bacterial or viral infections, an obvious victory amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Finally, the researchers note, vitamin B12 can help regulate the respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. Interestingly, the new coronavirus is known to affect all three of these pivotal areas, including the brain, leading to a whole host of long-term effects such as delirium and depression.

The good news is that researchers point out that you can reap the benefits of B vitamins just by maintaining a healthy diet, which significantly lowers your risk of developing a severe case of coronavirus. So which foods are the best for getting your B vitamins? In addition to the foods pictured here, Healthline reports that some of your best options are salmon, leafy greens, eggs, milk, clams, oysters, mussels, and legumes. And for more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter.