Category: COVID-19 & Infectious Disease

Strategies for acute care, long-haul management, and immune recovery.

Nicotinamide Riboside—The Current State of Research and Therapeutic Uses

This comprehensive review delves into the multifaceted role of nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3, as a potent precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme integral to numerous metabolic processes. The authors discuss how NR supplementation has been shown to elevate NAD+ levels, thereby enhancing mitochondrial function

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BPC 157 as Potential Treatment for COVID-19

This hypothesis article explores the potential application of BPC 157, a synthetic peptide derived from human gastric juice, as a therapeutic agent for COVID-19. BPC 157 is known for its cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, which may be beneficial in mitigating the systemic inflammation and multi-organ damage associated with severe COVID-19.

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Mini-Review on the Roles of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Selenium in the Immune System against COVID-19

This mini-review explores the immunomodulatory roles of vitamin C, vitamin D, and selenium in the context of COVID-19. Vitamin C enhances immune defense by supporting epithelial barrier function, promoting the oxidative killing of pathogens, and modulating cytokine production. Vitamin D contributes to immune regulation by inducing antimicrobial peptides and modulating

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Potential health benefits of zinc supplementation for the management of COVID-19 pandemic

This review article explores the potential role of zinc supplementation in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights zinc’s essential functions in immune modulation, antiviral defense, and anti-inflammatory responses. The authors discuss zinc’s ability to inhibit viral replication by interfering with viral genome transcription and protein translation, as well as its

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Prediction of survival odds in COVID-19 by zinc, age and selenoprotein P as composite biomarker

This observational study evaluated the prognostic value of a composite biomarker comprising serum zinc levels, selenoprotein P (SELENOP), and patient age in predicting survival among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Conducted in Germany, the study included 35 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Findings revealed that non-survivors had significantly lower levels of zinc

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Randomised controlled trial for high-dose intravenous zinc as adjunctive therapy in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) positive critically ill patients: trial protocol

This article outlines the protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to assess the safety and efficacy of high-dose intravenous zinc as an adjunctive therapy in critically ill patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conducted at a single center in Australia, the study aims to enroll adult patients admitted to

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Zinc against COVID-19? Symptom Surveillance and Deficiency Risk Groups

This 2021 review article by Marcin P. Joachimiak, published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, explores the potential role of zinc in mitigating COVID-19 symptoms and identifies populations at risk for zinc deficiency. The author discusses zinc’s critical functions in immune response modulation, antiviral activity, and maintenance of mucosal integrity. The

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A pilot double-blind safety and feasibility randomized controlled trial of high-dose intravenous zinc in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

This pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial assessed the safety and feasibility of administering high-dose intravenous zinc in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The study involved 33 participants who were randomized to receive either 0.5 mg/kg of elemental zinc (as zinc chloride) or a placebo daily for up to 7 days. The primary

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