Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals Under Investigation for COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment
Authors: Ronan Lordan, Halie M. Rando, COVID-19 Review Consortium, Casey S. Greene
AI-generated Key Points
- COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruption and loss of life
- Interest in exploring dietary supplements and nutraceuticals for prevention and treatment of COVID-19
- Products under investigation include vitamin C, vitamin D, omega 3 fatty acids, probiotics, and zinc
- Nutritional status plays a crucial role in patient outcomes
- Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with higher incidence of infection and more severe cases of COVID-19
- Research on dietary supplements and nutraceuticals is still in early stages
- Scientific organizations considering recommending certain supplements like vitamin D to those at risk but guidelines are yet to be established
- Further study is required before definitive conclusions can be drawn on the effectiveness of these products for COVID-19 prevention and treatment
- Individuals seeking information related to COVID-19 should consult reliable sources such as local health departments or official guidance from organizations like the CDC or their respective governments
Abstract: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused global disruption and a significant loss of life. Existing treatments that can be repurposed as prophylactic and therapeutic agents could reduce the pandemic's devastation. Emerging evidence of potential applications in other therapeutic contexts has led to the investigation of dietary supplements and nutraceuticals for COVID-19. Such products include vitamin C, vitamin D, omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, probiotics, and zinc, all of which are currently under clinical investigation. In this review, we critically appraise the evidence surrounding dietary supplements and nutraceuticals for the prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19. Overall, further study is required before evidence-based recommendations can be formulated, but nutritional status plays a significant role in patient outcomes, and these products could help alleviate deficiencies. For example, evidence indicates that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with greater incidence of infection and severity of COVID-19, suggesting that vitamin D supplementation may hold prophylactic or therapeutic value. A growing number of scientific organizations are now considering recommending vitamin D supplementation to those at high risk of COVID-19. Because research in vitamin D and other nutraceuticals and supplements is preliminary, here we evaluate the extent to which these nutraceutical and dietary supplements hold potential in the COVID-19 crisis.
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