Hiroshima [Japan], February 26 (ANI): A recent study by diet specialist Thanutchaporn Kumrungsee may be the first step in showing the potential of vitamin B6 to reduce the risk of patients becoming seriously ill with the coronavirus.
The study paper published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition found that vitamin B6 may help calm cytokine storms and unclog blood clots linked to the lethality of COVID-19. But research on this subject is lacking.
Studies have so far explored the benefits of vitamins D and C and minerals like zinc and magnesium in boosting the immune response against COVID-19. But research on vitamin B6 is mostly lacking.
“In addition to washing our hands, food and nutrition are among the first lines of defense against infection with the Covid-19 virus. Food is our first medicine and the kitchen is our first pharmacy”, Kumrungsee, professor associate at the Graduate School of Integrated, University of Hiroshima Life Sciences, said.
“Recently, many scientists have published articles regarding the role of diets and nutrients in protecting against COVID-19. However, very few scientists pay attention to the important role of vitamin B6,” she said added.
In their article, she and her fellow researchers highlighted the growing body of evidence showing that vitamin B6 exerts a protective effect against chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes by suppressing inflammation, inflammasomes, stress. oxidative and carbonyl stress.
“Coronaviruses and influenza are among the viruses that can cause fatal lung damage and death from acute respiratory distress syndrome worldwide. Viral infections cause a ‘cytokine storm’, leading to inflammation of capillary endothelial cells pulmonary, neutrophil infiltration and increased oxidative stress, “they mentioned.
Kumrungsee explained that thrombosis (blood clotting) and cytokine storm (hyper inflammation) could be closely related to the severity of COVID-19. Cytokine storms occur when the immune system goes dangerously overdrive and begins to attack even healthy cells. During this time, blood clots linked to COVID-19 can block capillaries, damaging vital organs like the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys.
Vitamin B6 is a known anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory nutrient. A deficiency in this vitamin is also associated with weaker immune function and greater susceptibility to viral infections.
“Vitamin B6 has a close relationship with the immune system. Its levels always drop in people with chronic inflammation like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. We can see in the news that people with obesity and diabetes are running a high risk of COVID-19, ”Kumrungsee said.
“Thus, our attempt in this article is to shed light on the possible involvement of vitamin B6 in decreasing the severity of COVID-19.”
The associate professor said she looked forward to clinical trials that would test their hypothesis.
“It is of great interest to examine whether vitamin B6 protects against new types of viral infection and pneumonia that will arise in the future. At present, there is little information regarding the protective role of nutrients against pneumonia and lung disease, ”she said.
“After COVID-19, we should develop the field of nutrition for lung diseases such as pneumonia and lung cancer.” (ANI)