Vitamin C for Covid symptoms and recovery
We have recently reinstated our fabulous foodstate Vitamin C to help people with Covid and those suffering longer term after effects of the disease.
As someone who has had the virus, albeit relatively mildly, I know how difficult it can be to continue to suffer symptoms after the main issues have disappeared. After ten days of fatigue, fever and itchy throat I recovered but still had many days where all the symptoms returned and I was bed-ridden again. And I know I’m not the only one. I took our COQ10 with vitamin C which I feel helped my recovery and I now take our plain vitamin C to keep me well.
Our nutritionist Jane has written a summary of various research papers into the effectiveness of Vitamin C for infections and they are laid out below.
Jane recommends taking 2-8 capsules daily as a way to keep the body topped up whilst there is a possibility of infection, ideally taking the dose throughout the day to keep the body topped up. Perhaps 2 capsules in the morning and 2 in the evening. During a viral or other infection, 2-4 capsules could be taken every hour to keep the body at optimum levels. People have reported feelings of fatigue once the vitamin C is being used up which indicates that they require another dose. This could be continued for up to 3 weeks after the start of the infection. Once the next dose is given the fatigue is reduced again. If unsure of how to use the vitamin C during an infection contact the Albany Street Clinic to talk to Jane.
Colunga Biancatelli et al.
Antiviral properties of vitamin C include supporting the immune cells (lymphocytes) to be more active at fighting viruses. Cytokines, which are chemical messengers between immune cells and promote the inflammatory response, are dampened down or reduced with the addition of vitamin C. Excessive cytokines can mean damage to the lungs and this has been associated with fatalities due to covid infection. Reducing the 'cytokine storm', using vitamin C, reduces inflammation and damage to the capillaries in the lung tissue, which has the effect of making the infection milder.
In addition, covid also damages mitochondrial (the energy producing organelle in the cell) function which slows down healing response and creates feelings of fatigue which vitamin C can reduce. It is possible that vitamin C may also be viricidal, directly damaging the virus (Colunga Biancatelli et al., 2020).
Infusino et al.
A feature of the damage to the body by covid includes platelet aggregation or blood clotting which reduces the ability of the body to carry oxygen to cells, resulting in fatigue and slowing down the healing process. This also makes it harder for people to breathe. This type of damage can also cause problems with the cardiovascular system and also the kidneys. Bioflavonoids, from the diet have been shown to reduce this type of damage and the food state supplements supply the dietary forms of bioflavonoids, they can open up the capillaries, repair or reduce the damage to the capillaries walls and this function is enhanced by the presence of vitamin C. Vitamin C reduces the severity and also the duration of pneumonia and other infections. (Infusino et al., 2020).
Hemilä and Chalker
Vitamin C levels drop dramatically during illness due to infection. When vitamin C was given that it shortened the duration of the infection and reduced the severity of the infection. During an illness 1-4 g of vitamin C may be needed per day to maintain normal levels of vitamin C in the blood (Hemila and Chalker, 2020).
Iddir et al.
Vitamin C enhances the repair process due to damage caused by inflammation by stimulating fibroblast action, it also supports the production of key immune cells such as macrophages, natural killer cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes (Iddir et al., 2020).
References
Colunga Biancatelli, R.M.L., Berrill, M., Catravas, J.D. and Marik, P.E., 2020. Quercetin and Vitamin C: An Experimental, Synergistic Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Related Disease (COVID-19). Frontiers in Immunology, 11(June), pp.1–11.
Hemila, H. and Chalker, E., 2020. Reply: Vitamin C as a Possible Therapy for COVID-19. Infection & Chemotherapy, [online] 52(2), pp.222–223. Available at: <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32468742>.
Iddir, M., Brito, A., Dingeo, G., Del Campo, S.S.F., Samouda, H., La Frano, M.R. and Bohn, T., 2020. Strengthening the immune system and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress through diet and nutrition: Considerations during the covid-19 crisis. Nutrients, 12(6), pp.1–39.
Infusino, F., Marazzato, M., Mancone, M., Fedele, F., Mastroianni, C.M., Severino, P., Ceccarelli, G., Santinelli, L., Cavarretta, E., Marullo, A.G.M., Miraldi, F., Carnevale, R., Nocella, C., Biondi-zoccai, G., Pagnini, C., Schiavon, S., Pugliese, F., Frati, G. and Ettorre, G., 2020. in SARS-CoV-2 Infection : A Scoping Review. Nutrients, 12(6), pp.1–21.