Potential Inhibitory Effect of Vitamins against COVID-19

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) current pandemic has affected many countries overall worldwide. When treatment strategies are not yet successful and vaccines are not available, vitamins are the best choice to protect against this viral infection.

Vitamins C and B delivered maximum energy scores against both targets and vitamin D displayed a binding energy score. The effectiveness of all three vitamins is higher than the binding energy score. Although the potential beneficial effects of vitamin C and B are revealed through studies, further clinical trials are required for the validation of these results.

The current COVID-19 pandemic is teaching significant adjustment for everyone.

We give an overview of the different agents that may have a role in the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 based on a review of the most current literature. It is important to note, however, that no clinical studies with supplements and vitamins have been completed in humans that are specific to COVID-19.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D have main role in immune functioning. VDR and Vitamin D have a suppressive effect on anti-inflammatory and autoimmunity effects on immune cells.

Vitamin D reduces the risk of acute respiratory infections among all patients, especially in those with deficient levels of vitamin D.

Zinc

The antiviral activities of zinc have made its ionospheres candidates and mineral against COVID-19. Zinc is essential for the integrity of the immune system, with an important role in the development, activation and maintenance of cells during adaptive and innate immune responses. It also plays a main role in the integrity of barriers, which are essential for organism prevention and defense of pathogen entry. Zinc can modulate the activity and development of T cells, hence characterized by high levels of pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines. It can lead to immune response impairment, resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or in multiple organ failure. Zinc deficiency decreases the activity of cytolytic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells both of which are involved in the destruction of tumor cells, viruses and bacteria.

Zinc is also useful in direct antiviral activity, which makes it essential for the immune response upon viral infection. Increased intracellular concentration of this mineral can reduce the replication of a variety of RNA viruses and interfere with the viral proteolysis processing of polyproteins. Zinc deficiency affects approximately one-third of the population worldwide and is affecting population groups in both developed and developing countries or also considered a global nutritional problem. It is also considered one of the main causes of morbidity in developing countries and it is estimated that 0.5 million women and children die per year in these countries due to zinc deficiency. Worldwide, about 16% of lower respiratory tract infections occur due to zinc deficiency, suggesting a possible link between this nutritional deficiency and severe disease progression and the increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C protects damage to bimolecular resulting from exposure to oxidants generated by normal metabolism. It exposes to toxins and pollutants. Vitamin C is a cofactor of several that are involved in the stabilization of the collagen tertiary structure. It is important for the occurrence of events.

Vitamin C levels in the body can change due to environmental conditions like air pollution and the presence of pathologies such as type 2 diabetes. The elderly population is particularly affected by vitamin C deficiency because chronic or acute diseases are prevalent in this group, and aging is related to reduce vitamin C levels. For example, low levels of vitamin C in a population of British elderly individuals were associated with all causes including cardiovascular causes. In addition, older age and low vitamin C levels appeared to be co-dependent risk factors for mortality and suggesting that serum vitamin C levels contributed to the significance of age as a predictor of mortality.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids. It includes docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic fatty acids. It has well known effects on immunity and inflammation. Decision by the European Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition expert statement, the use of omega-3 fatty acids can improve oxygenation in COVID-19 patients. Others however have suggested caution in the use of the omega-3 s in COVID-19 patients, citing evidence showing a counter-intuitive increase in inflammation and oxidative stress due to increased susceptibility of cellular membranes to damage.

Vitamin E and Selenium

The anti-oxidant Vitamin E and selenium are major components of anti-oxidants. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that deficiencies in either of these nutrients alters viral pathogenicity and immune responses. It has been noted, that there is a correlation between COVID-19 cure rates and geographic selenium levels in different Chinese provinces. Selenium and Vitamin E both act through anti-oxidant pathways to increase IL-2 cytokine secretion, increase the number of T cells and enhance mitogenic lymphocyte responses. It also enhances NK cell activity and decreases the risk of infection. Vitamin E and Selenium supplementation has also been shown to increase resistance to respiratory infections.

Adequate levels of vitamins C, E and D are crucial during COVID-19 to reduce symptom burden and lessen the duration of respiratory infection. It may improve immune responses and suppress viral replication. Therefore, the consumption of adequate amounts of minerals and vitamins through diet is essential to ensure the proper functioning of the immune system. Vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, fish, poultry and dairy products are good source of these vitamins and minerals. To support immune function during COVID-19 disease higher dietary intakes of vitamins C, D and E, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids could be beneficial.

Conclusion and future prospects

The effects of vitamins C, D, E, zinc, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids positively affect the immune system are shown above. Also the possible benefits to those suffering from COVID-19 are presented. Supplementation of higher dosage of vitamins D, zinc and C may have a positive effect during COVID-19 infection. However, clinical trials based on the associations of COVID-19 and diet are lacking. Some clinical studies have been registered and are currently being conducted to decide the effectiveness of certain nutrients in patients with COVID-19. Hopefully, the results of these trials will clear the use of micronutrients during SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is also important to investigate other important micronutrients such as vitamin B in COVID-19, to further see the role of nutrition in disease outcomes.

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Consumer Towards Health and Nutrition: Vitamins and Supplements Driving Beauty Innovation

Healthy behaviors and living and towards health are rapidly changing. As new trends information and emerge about various illnesses is shared via more channels than ever before, it is important for brands and companies to understand client’s habits and perceptions when it comes to their health.

With the survey´s results provide clients insight into every day or long-term health attitudes and behaviors in areas such as health nutrition, packaged food and consumer sports.

Vitamins and Supplements Driving Beauty Innovation

Rapidly changing large amounts of easily available information and health on nutrition and health is blurring the lines of what types of products consumers are using to manage their health. For example, consumers who before depends on traditional beauty products to manage their appearance are diverted at vitamins and supplements to encourage their appearance as part of their overall well-being.

As consumers are shifting their mind towards companies, healthcare and brands need to ensure that they are looking at their services and products with the same view. Therefore, it is important that companies and brands look beyond their emergence competitors and product categories as disruption within nutrition and health continues.

Consumers have rapidly looked at their appearance as an indicator of health. By the definition of health has been changing over the years, with more emphasis being placed on feeling “good”, getting enough sleep, mental well-being and 54% feels that beauty means looking healthy and 47% of global consumer believes that being healthy means having a healthy appearance.

Multivitamins, green tea extract and vitamin E are the mostly consumed vitamins and supplements for beauty and skin health purposes. Though some of these vitamins and supplements have been added in beauty and personal care products for many years, the format of how consumers are using it has been changed. These products not only include standard pills and capsules found within supplements categories and vitamins but also powders to add to oral sprays, ready-to-drink products and meals or shakes.

The planning that consumer are consuming vitamins and supplement is not the only thing that is changing, but how they get their information and make purchasing decisions is shifting as well. Many consumers still get information from traditional sources such as family/friends, doctors and pharmacists. However, many are looking at alternative information sources with global consumers depending on social media, healthcare related fitness trainers or coaches and websites to give them healthcare information and advice on which vitamins and supplements to consume.

Companies and Brands need to understand the overall information about health and nutrition for their consumers instead of focusing on their specific categories, as they need to be part of the wider lifestyle habits and choices consumers have when it comes to their health.

Consumers’ perspective of health

  1. Feeling ‘good’
  2. Eating a balanced diet
  3. Drinking enough water
  4. Mental wellbeing
  5. Absence of disease
  6. Low stress
  7. Avoiding Alcohol
  8. Maintaining Healthy Weight
  9. Physical Strength

Consumers’ perspective of beauty

Being comfortable in your own skin

  1. Looking presentable
  2. Inner self confidence
  3. Embracing yourself
  4. Simplicity
  5. Looking Healthy
  6. Honesty
  7. Hygiene/cleanliness
  8. Embracing yourself

Consumers may realize that health isn’t about what foods they eat but also what supplements they take and what products they apply. That’s why food-related marketing terms like plant-derived, non-GMO, natural and organic are rapidly in-demand when it comes to skin health products. Women are considered as the main consumers in the skin health nutraceutical category.

It has been proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and work from the inside-out to increase the elasticity and moisture of skin.

Similarly, supplement formulators are taking skin health into account when they’re developing products for other categories.

Regional Insights

Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases like Diabetes and Cancer, rising disposable income, rising digestive tract diseases, and growing consumer awareness about nutritional products is propelling the regional product demand. Increasing demand of a healthy diet to maintain fitness levels is also boosting the demand for health supplements and women’s beauty.

Start up countries like China, India, Japan, Singapore and Australia to educate and create awareness to women regarding nutrition is also boosting the growth of the Asia Pacific market.

Africa and Middle East is the fastest-growing segment over the forecast period. Increasing number of gyms, concerns related to lifestyle diseases and growing millennial population and is likely to boost the regional supplements market. Increasing focus of government regarding creating health awareness is to drive the dietary supplements market in the near future. For instance, in 2018, an initiative known as the National Happiness and Positivity program is introduced by government which goals to provide right information to public employees to help them building a work environment and adopt healthy habits that supports the best healthy lifestyle.

Key Companies that invest their savings in health related businesses…

Geographic expansions, increasing investments in R&D, collaborations with other industry players, product and flavor differentiation, mergers and acquisitions are among the key strategies adopted by the market players for meeting a competitive edge. In December 2018, Pfizer, Inc. signed an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) to combine their consumer health business into a new joint business, with combined sales of about 12.7 USD billion. The joint business was expected to be pain relief, a category leader in respiratory, digestive health, skin health, vitamin and mineral supplements, therapeutic oral health. Some of the companies plays the main role in the women health & beauty supplements markets are:

  • The Nature’s Bounty Co
  • Herb life International of America Inc.
  • GNC Holdings Inc.
  • Garden of Life (Nestle)
  • Bayer AG1
  • Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
  • Suntory Holdings Limited
  • Pharmavite LLC
  • Blackmores
  • Swisse Wellness Pty. Ltd.
  • Pfizer Inc.
  • Fancl Corporation
  • Asahi Group Holdings
  • Grape King Bio Ltd.
  • Usana Health Sciences
  • By Health Co. Ltd
  • Nu Skin Enterprises
  • Revital Ltd.
  • The Himalaya Drug Company
  • Vita Life Sciences
  • Standard Foods Corporation
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