Can supplements help prevent against COVID?

We know that the most effective way to reduce your chances of getting COVID-19 are social distancing where possible, wearing a mask, washing hands often and using sanitiser and of course, getting vaccinated. But if you’re already doing all those things and simply want to know if there is a way to ensure your body is extra protected, from the inside, taking certain supplements can help protect you. Now we’re not saying that if you take these supplements you definitely will not get COVID, but they reduce your chances of contracting the virus and can help lessen the severity of the symptoms you might experience. Plus, taking supplements can also make the COVID-19 vaccine more effective.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are what cause your cells to experience oxidative stress bodily inflammation and we know that those with more cellular oxidative stress and inflammation are more susceptible to viruses such as COVID.

Vitamin D

When you think of vitamin D you might just think of strong teeth and bones. But vitamin D also regulates many other cellular functions in your body. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties support immune health, muscle function and brain cell activity. Research suggests people with normal vitamin D levels have a lower risk of contracting COVID. Those with low levels of vitamin D are not only at a higher risk of contracting the virus, but when they do get it, their symptoms are likely to be more severe.

Zinc

Zinc has long been used as a home remedy for the common cold as it is thought to bolster the immune system. And, researchers from Spain found that hospitalised COVID-19 patients with low blood levels of zinc tended to fare worse than those with healthier levels. Similarly to vitamin C, zinc helps to reduce inflammation within the body and those people in hospital who had lower zinc levels at admission also experienced higher inflammation in the course of infection and therefore had a poorer outcome.

Glutathione

Research into the role glutathione has within the body has shown strong links between glutathione levels and how serious COVID-19 affects an individual. The research suggests that low levels of glutathione could be one of the reasons people suffer severe symptoms and even death after contracting COVID-19. Additional research has also highlighted the importance of glutathione in terms of our body’s biosynthesis of vitamin D.

Optima Max

Optima Max is a pure NAD+ supplement - a molecule that is naturally found in the body. NAD+ plays an important role in keeping us healthy and works on a cellular level. Those with lower levels of NAD+ in the body experience more oxidative stress, inflammation and reduced mitochondrial efficiency which can also lead to a weakened immune system. This means that those with low levels of NAD+ are more likely to contract COVID and experience more severe symptoms. NAD+ is now seen as an emerging regulator of immune responses during viral infections and may be a promising therapeutic target for COVID-19.