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The Emerging Role of Vitamin C in the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19.
Carr, AC, Rowe, S
Nutrients. 2020;12(11)
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There are many parallels between the clinical presentations of pneumonia and sepsis with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This has enabled researchers to draw on decades of research and apply it the current pandemic. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the potential role of Vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 based on existing research. Examining the current literature, the authors found many therapeutic properties of vitamin C applicable to the clinical presentations of COVID-19. These include modulating the immune system, decreasing inflammation and lessening complications in the lungs. Emerging research indicates that administering vitamin C early during respiratory infection may prevent its progression to sepsis, thus reducing organ failure. Additionally, a recent observational study has found low vitamin C status in critically ill patients with COVID-19, and numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are currently assessing intravenous vitamin C in patients with COVID-19. Based on the current research, the authors warrant administering vitamin C to patients with low vitamin C levels and severe respiratory infections while optimistically awaiting results from current RCTs.
Abstract
Investigation into the role of vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of pneumonia and sepsis has been underway for many decades. This research has laid a strong foundation for translation of these findings into patients with severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Research has indicated that patients with pneumonia and sepsis have low vitamin C status and elevated oxidative stress. Administration of vitamin C to patients with pneumonia can decrease the severity and duration of the disease. Critically ill patients with sepsis require intravenous administration of gram amounts of the vitamin to normalize plasma levels, an intervention that some studies suggest reduces mortality. The vitamin has pleiotropic physiological functions, many of which are relevant to COVID-19. These include its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and immuno-modulatory functions. Preliminary observational studies indicate low vitamin C status in critically ill patients with COVID-19. There are currently a number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) registered globally that are assessing intravenous vitamin C monotherapy in patients with COVID-19. Since hypovitaminosis C and deficiency are common in low-middle-income settings, and many of the risk factors for vitamin C deficiency overlap with COVID-19 risk factors, it is possible that trials carried out in populations with chronic hypovitaminosis C may show greater efficacy. This is particularly relevant for the global research effort since COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting low-middle-income countries and low-income groups globally. One small trial from China has finished early and the findings are currently under peer review. There was significantly decreased mortality in the more severely ill patients who received vitamin C intervention. The upcoming findings from the larger RCTs currently underway will provide more definitive evidence. Optimization of the intervention protocols in future trials, e.g., earlier and sustained administration, is warranted to potentially improve its efficacy. Due to the excellent safety profile, low cost, and potential for rapid upscaling of production, administration of vitamin C to patients with hypovitaminosis C and severe respiratory infections, e.g., COVID-19, appears warranted.
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Possible long-term endocrine-metabolic complications in COVID-19: lesson from the SARS model.
Mongioì, LM, Barbagallo, F, Condorelli, RA, Cannarella, R, Aversa, A, La Vignera, S, Calogero, AE
Endocrine. 2020;68(3):467-470
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Little is known about how it affects the endocrine system and it is likely that some patients who have recovered may suffer long-term consequences. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that caused the SARS outbreak in 2003 has many similarities. This editorial looks at the possible effects on the endocrine system of SARS-CoV-2 by looking at the long-term effects seen in SARS. In the case of SARS-CoV, it was thought that the virus could directly damage pancreatic cells leading to type 2 diabetes. It is hypothesized that Covid-19 patients could develop this condition by the same mechanism. Although no study on SARS reported the link between obesity and higher mortality rate, there is evidence that obese Covid-19 patients have worse clinical outcomes. There is no data yet for Covid-19, but adrenal insufficiency and impaired thyroid function were shown in some cases of SARS. To identify and treat any possible long-term effects of Covid-19, endocrinologists should monitor hormone levels and metabolic functions.
Abstract
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is centralizing the interest of the scientific world. In the next months, long-term consequences on the endocrine system may arise following COVID-19. In this article, we hypothesized the effects of SARS-CoV-2 taking into account what learned from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that caused SARS in 2003.
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Nutrition and Cardiovascular Health.
Tappia, PS, Blewett, H
International journal of molecular sciences. 2020;21(7)
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Nutritionally poor diets can have a significant negative impact on cardiovascular health, whereas dietary interventions with specific nutrients and/or functional foods are considered cost-effective and efficient components of prevention strategies. This review examined the role of overall nutrition, specific nutrients, foods and dietary practices in relation to cardioprotection and prevention of cardiovascular disease. All contributions show that nutrition plays an important role in cardiovascular health and disease. In fact, nutrients exhibit a diverse range of properties ranging from anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to metabolic, molecular and membrane actions. Thus, a balanced and varied diet of food items can provide different benefits which can be key to cardiovascular health. Authors conclude by highlighting the importance for further investigation and advancement in understanding the essential role of nutrition in cardiovascular health and disease treatment and/or prevention.
Abstract
There is unequivocal experimental, epidemiological and clinical evidence demonstrating a correlation between diet and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) [...].
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COVID-19 infection: the perspectives on immune responses.
Shi, Y, Wang, Y, Shao, C, Huang, J, Gan, J, Huang, X, Bucci, E, Piacentini, M, Ippolito, G, Melino, G
Cell death and differentiation. 2020;27(5):1451-1454
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The SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers an immune response which varies greatly from one person to another. It can be roughly divided into three stages: stage I, an asymptomatic incubation period with or without detectable virus; stage II, non-severe symptomatic period with the presence of virus; stage III, severe respiratory symptomatic stage with high viral load. Currently around 15% of people infected end up in severe stage III. There appears to be a two-phase immune response; an early protective phase and a second inflammation-driven damaging phase. In phase one the adaptive immune system responds to the virus. Being in good general health is important in this phase to limiting the progression of the disease to a more severe stage. In phase two the innate immune system response to tissue damage caused by the virus could lead to widespread inflammation of the lungs and acute respiratory distress syndrome or respiratory failure. Therapeutically this raises the question of whether the immune response should be boosted in phase one and suppressed in phase two. There also appears to be an element of viral relapse in some patients discharged from hospital indicating that a virus-eliminating immune response may be difficult to achieve naturally. These same patients may also not respond to vaccines. Overall, it is still unclear why some people develop severe disease, whilst others do not. Overall immunity alone does not explain the differences in disease presentation.
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Nutrition support in the time of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
Laviano, A, Koverech, A, Zanetti, M
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). 2020;74:110834
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Nutrition is part of the treatment regimen for acute and chronic diseases and applies particularly to ailments for which an etiologic treatment has not yet been discovered and validated. Furthermore, the timing of nutritional intervention is also important as patients rapidly progress from cough to shortness of breath, and then to respiratory failure and admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for mechanical ventilation. Literature shows that COVID-19 is associated with negative outcomes in older, comorbid, and hypoalbuminemic (low albumin – protein made by the liver - blood levels) patients. In fact, international nutrition scientific societies are developing updated guidelines that are specific to the needs of patients who are critically ill with COVID-19. While waiting for specific recommendations on the nutritional management of patients with COVID-19 in the ICU, current available guidelines on the clinical nutrition for patients in the ICU are likely to fit the needs of patients with COVID-19.
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CITRIS-ALI: How statistics were used to obfuscate the true findings.
Marik, PE, Payen, D
Anaesthesia, critical care & pain medicine. 2019;38(6):575-577
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Precision Nutrition and Metabolic Syndrome Management.
González-Muniesa, P, Martínez, JA
Nutrients. 2019;11(10)
Abstract
The journal NUTRIENTS published some time ago a special issue about "Precision Nutrition and Metabolic Syndrome Management", which included a series of articles about the role of bioactive compounds, amino acids/proteins and fatty acids for personalized nutritional applications [...].
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Acute-on-chronic liver failure: consensus recommendations of the Asian Pacific association for the study of the liver (APASL): an update.
Sarin, SK, Choudhury, A, Sharma, MK, Maiwall, R, Al Mahtab, M, Rahman, S, Saigal, S, Saraf, N, Soin, AS, Devarbhavi, H, et al
Hepatology international. 2019;13(4):353-390
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Abstract
The first consensus report of the working party of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) set up in 2004 on acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) was published in 2009. With international groups volunteering to join, the "APASL ACLF Research Consortium (AARC)" was formed in 2012, which continued to collect prospective ACLF patient data. Based on the prospective data analysis of nearly 1400 patients, the AARC consensus was published in 2014. In the past nearly four-and-a-half years, the AARC database has been enriched to about 5200 cases by major hepatology centers across Asia. The data published during the interim period were carefully analyzed and areas of contention and new developments in the field of ACLF were prioritized in a systematic manner. The AARC database was also approached for answering some of the issues where published data were limited, such as liver failure grading, its impact on the 'Golden Therapeutic Window', extrahepatic organ dysfunction and failure, development of sepsis, distinctive features of acute decompensation from ACLF and pediatric ACLF and the issues were analyzed. These initiatives concluded in a two-day meeting in October 2018 at New Delhi with finalization of the new AARC consensus. Only those statements, which were based on evidence using the Grade System and were unanimously recommended, were accepted. Finalized statements were again circulated to all the experts and subsequently presented at the AARC investigators meeting at the AASLD in November 2018. The suggestions from the experts were used to revise and finalize the consensus. After detailed deliberations and data analysis, the original definition of ACLF was found to withstand the test of time and be able to identify a homogenous group of patients presenting with liver failure. New management options including the algorithms for the management of coagulation disorders, renal replacement therapy, sepsis, variceal bleed, antivirals and criteria for liver transplantation for ACLF patients were proposed. The final consensus statements along with the relevant background information and areas requiring future studies are presented here.
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Public Health Nutrition special issue on ultra-processed foods.
Kelly, B, Jacoby, E
Public health nutrition. 2018;21(1):1-4
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Food processing-based classification systems have been increasingly acknowledged in reports and commentary from the World Health Organisation, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Pan American Health Organization. The aim of this issue was to examine the role and utility of food processing-based classification systems in food and nutrition research and public policy. This issue shows that food processing-based classification systems: - offer possibilities for use in public policy as a way to define unhealthful dietary patterns. - may underpin other regulatory strategies for the prevention and control of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases by identifying unhealthful foods. - could also be applied in local planning regulations, where these seek to influence the availability or accessibility of foods in local environments Authors conclude that food processing-based classification systems have a great potential for wider application in food policy.