Vitamin C and Immune Function
Anitra C. Carr,Silvia Maggini +1 more
TLDR
Prophylactic prevention of infection requires dietary vitamin C intakes that provide at least adequate, if not saturating plasma levels, and treatment of established infections requires significantly higher doses to compensate for the increased inflammatory response and metabolic demand.Abstract:
Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient for humans, with pleiotropic functions related to its ability to donate electrons. It is a potent antioxidant and a cofactor for a family of biosynthetic and gene regulatory enzymes. Vitamin C contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system. Vitamin C supports epithelial barrier function against pathogens and promotes the oxidant scavenging activity of the skin, thereby potentially protecting against environmental oxidative stress. Vitamin C accumulates in phagocytic cells, such as neutrophils, and can enhance chemotaxis, phagocytosis, generation of reactive oxygen species, and ultimately microbial killing. It is also needed for apoptosis and clearance of the spent neutrophils from sites of infection by macrophages, thereby decreasing necrosis/NETosis and potential tissue damage. The role of vitamin C in lymphocytes is less clear, but it has been shown to enhance differentiation and proliferation of B- and T-cells, likely due to its gene regulating effects. Vitamin C deficiency results in impaired immunity and higher susceptibility to infections. In turn, infections significantly impact on vitamin C levels due to enhanced inflammation and metabolic requirements. Furthermore, supplementation with vitamin C appears to be able to both prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections. Prophylactic prevention of infection requires dietary vitamin C intakes that provide at least adequate, if not saturating plasma levels (i.e., 100–200 mg/day), which optimize cell and tissue levels. In contrast, treatment of established infections requires significantly higher (gram) doses of the vitamin to compensate for the increased inflammatory response and metabolic demand.read more
Citations
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Risk factors for severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients: A review.
Ya-dong Gao,Mei Ding,Mei Ding,Xiang Dong,Jin-jin Zhang,Ahmet Kursat Azkur,Dilek Azkur,Hui Gan,Yuan-Li Sun,Wei Fu,Wei Li,Hui-ling Liang,Yiyuan Cao,Qi Yan,Can Cao,Hong-yu Gao,Marie-Charlotte Brüggen,Willem van de Veen,Milena Sokolowska,Mübeccel Akdis,Cezmi A. Akdis +20 more
TL;DR: In this review, the scientific evidence on the risk factors of severity of COVID‐19 are highlighted and socioeconomic status, diet, lifestyle, geographical differences, ethnicity, exposed viral load, day of initiation of treatment, and quality of health care have been reported to influence individual outcomes.
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A Review of Micronutrients and the Immune System–Working in Harmony to Reduce the Risk of Infection
TL;DR: Although contradictory data exist, available evidence indicates that supplementation with multiple micronutrients with immune-supporting roles may modulate immune function and reduce the risk of infection.
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The Food Systems in the Era of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Crisis.
TL;DR: The current article explores the food systems in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, providing insights about the properties of bioactive ingredients of foods and herbs for the support of the human immune system against infections before discussing the possibility of CO VID-19 transmission through the food chain.
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Optimal Nutritional Status for a Well-Functioning Immune System Is an Important Factor to Protect against Viral Infections.
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of nutrition plays in supporting the immune system is well-established, and a wealth of mechanistic and clinical data show that vitamins, including vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folate, trace elements, including zinc, iron, selenium, magnesium, and copper, play important and complementary roles in supporting immune system.
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An Update on Current Therapeutic Drugs Treating COVID-19.
Renyi Wu,Lujing Wang,Hsiao-Chen Dina Kuo,Ahmad Shannar,Rebecca Peter,Pochung Jordan Chou,Shanyi Li,Rasika Hudlikar,Xia Liu,Xia Liu,Zhigang Liu,George J. Poiani,George J. Poiani,Louis F. Amorosa,Luigi Brunetti,Luigi Brunetti,Ah-Ng Tony Kong +16 more
TL;DR: It is hoped that this review will provide useful and most updated therapeutic drugs to prevent, control, and treat COVID-19 patients until the approval of vaccines and specific drugs targeting SARS-CoV-2.
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