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Open AccessJournal ArticleDOI

Myth Busters: Dietary Supplements and COVID-19.

TLDR
Evidence evaluating these supplements in CO VID-19 patients is lacking, and providers and patients should not rely on dietary supplements to prevent or treat COVID-19, rather, reference to evidence-based guidelines should guide treatment decisions.
Abstract
News and social media platforms have implicated dietary supplements in the treatment and prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). During this pandemic when information quickly evolves in the presence of contradicting messages and misinformation, the role of the pharmacist is essential. Here, we review theoretical mechanisms and evidence related to efficacy and safety of select supplements in the setting of COVID-19, including vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, elderberry, and silver. Evidence evaluating these supplements in COVID-19 patients is lacking, and providers and patients should not rely on dietary supplements to prevent or treat COVID-19. Rather, reference to evidence-based guidelines should guide treatment decisions.

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Journal ArticleDOI

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

TL;DR: The roles of vitamin C, vitamin D, and selenium in the immune system are discussed in relation to COVID-19 in order to maximize the nutritional defense against infections.
Journal ArticleDOI

A Basic Review of the Preliminary Evidence That COVID-19 Risk and Severity Is Increased in Vitamin D Deficiency

TL;DR: The literature review found that prophylactically correcting possible vitamin D deficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic is extremely safe and recommended 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily for all populations with limited ability to manufacture vitamin D from the sun.
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Dietary Supplements during COVID-19 Outbreak. Results of Google Trends Analysis Supported by PLifeCOVID-19 Online Studies.

TL;DR: The use of dietary supplements has been steadily increasing all over the world and additionally, the sales of DSs have dynamical increased in the wake of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in most of the countries as discussed by the authors.
Journal ArticleDOI

Overview of the possible role of vitamin C in management of COVID-19.

TL;DR: Given the fact that vitamin C is cheap, available and safe drug with beneficial effects in management of viral infections and critically ill patients reported in previous clinical trials, it is sensible to add it to COVID-19 management protocol particularly if the current ongoing clinical trials testing the effect of vitamin C show positive results.
Journal ArticleDOI

The Long History of Vitamin C: From Prevention of the Common Cold to Potential Aid in the Treatment of COVID-19.

TL;DR: The most relevant studies from the prevention and treatment of common respiratory diseases to the use of vitamin C in critical illness conditions are summarized, with the aim of clarifying its potential application during an acute SARS-CoV2 infection.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI

Silver nanoparticles: mechanism of antimicrobial action, synthesis, medical applications, and toxicity effects

TL;DR: A comprehensive view on the mechanism of action, production, applications in the medical field, and health and environmental concerns that are allegedly caused due to these nanoparticles is provided in this paper.
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Coronavirus Infections-More Than Just the Common Cold.

TL;DR: Yet another pathogenic HCoV, 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), was recognized in Wuhan, China, and has caused serious illness and death, and the ultimate scope and effect of this outbreak is unclear at present.
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Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths.

TL;DR: Evidence supporting the role of vitamin D in reducing risk of COVID-19 includes that the outbreak occurred in winter, a time when 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are lowest; that the number of cases in the Southern Hemisphere near the end of summer are low; that vitamin D deficiency has been found to contribute to acute respiratory distress syndrome; and that case-fatality rates increase with age and with chronic disease comorbidity.
Journal ArticleDOI

Epidemic influenza and vitamin D.

TL;DR: Vitamin D, or lack of it, may be Hope-Simpson's ‘seasonal stimulus’ and dramatically stimulates the expression of potent anti-microbial peptides, which exist in neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, and in epithelial cells lining the respiratory tract where they play a major role in protecting the lung from infection.
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