HIROSHIMA: A recent study led by food scientist Thanutchaporn Kumrungsee may be the first step in demonstrating the potential of vitamin B6 in reducing the numbers of patients who very ill with 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 Covid-19 lethality. But the research is lacking.
Studies to date have examined the benefits of vitamins D and C and minerals such as zinc and magnesium in enhancing the immune response against Covid-19. But research on vitamin B6 has been largely lacking.
“In addition to washing your hands, food and nutrition are among the first lines of protection against Covid-19 virus infection. Food is our first medicine and kitchen is our first store. our pharmacist, ”Kumrungsee, an associate professor at Hiroshima University’s Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, said.
“Recently, many scientists have published papers regarding the role of diet and nutrition in protection against Covid-19. However, very few scientists pay attention to the important role of vitamin B6 , “she said.
In her paper, she and her fellow researchers identified growing evidence that vitamin B6 exerts a protective effect against harmful diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes by being inhibits inflammation, inflammasomes, oxidative stress, and carbonyl stress.
“Coronaviruses and the flu are among the viruses that can cause fatal lung injuries and deaths from major respiratory distress syndrome worldwide. Viral diseases trigger a ‘cytokine storm,’ ‘ to lung capillary endothelial cell inflammation, neutrophil infiltration, and increased oxidative stress, ”they said.
Kumrungsee explained that thrombosis (hemorrhage) and cytokine (hyper swelling) may be closely linked to Covid-19 graveness. Cytokine storms occur when the immune system enters dangerously and begins to attack even the healthy cells. At the same time, blood clots linked to Covid-19 can block capillaries, damaging vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys.
Vitamin B6 is a well-known anti-thrombosis and anti-inflammatory nutrient. Deficiency in this vitamin is also associated with lower immune function and a higher susceptibility to viral infections.
“Vitamin B6 is closely linked to the immune system. Its levels always drop in people with chronic inflammation such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. We can see from the news that obese and diabetic people are at high risk for Covid-19, “Kumrungsee said.
“Therefore, our effort in this paper is to shed light on the potential impact of vitamin B6 in reducing the severity of Covid-19.”
The associate professor said she is looking forward to clinical trials that would test their hypothesis.
“There is a great deal of interest in studying whether vitamin B6 provides protection against novel strains of virus and major outbreaks that may occur in the future. nutrition protection against influenza and lung infections, “she said.
“After Covid-19, we should improve the nutritional range for lung diseases such as pneumonia and lung cancer.”
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 Covid-19 lethality. But the research is lacking.
Studies to date have examined the benefits of vitamins D and C and minerals such as zinc and magnesium in enhancing the immune response against Covid-19. But research on vitamin B6 has been largely lacking.
“In addition to washing your hands, food and nutrition are among the first lines of protection against Covid-19 virus infection. Food is our first medicine and kitchen is our first store. our pharmacist, ”Kumrungsee, an associate professor at Hiroshima University’s Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, said.
“Recently, many scientists have published papers regarding the role of diet and nutrition in protection against Covid-19. However, very few scientists pay attention to the important role of vitamin B6 , “she said.
In her paper, she and her fellow researchers identified growing evidence that vitamin B6 exerts a protective effect against harmful diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes by being inhibits inflammation, inflammasomes, oxidative stress, and carbonyl stress.
“Coronaviruses and the flu are among the viruses that can cause fatal lung injuries and deaths from major respiratory distress syndrome worldwide. Viral diseases trigger a ‘cytokine storm,’ ‘ to lung capillary endothelial cell inflammation, neutrophil infiltration, and increased oxidative stress, ”they said.
Kumrungsee explained that thrombosis (hemorrhage) and cytokine (hyper swelling) may be closely linked to Covid-19 graveness. Cytokine storms occur when the immune system enters dangerously and begins to attack even the healthy cells. At the same time, blood clots linked to Covid-19 can block capillaries, damaging vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys.
Vitamin B6 is a well-known anti-thrombosis and anti-inflammatory nutrient. Deficiency in this vitamin is also associated with lower immune function and a higher susceptibility to viral infections.
“Vitamin B6 is closely linked to the immune system. Its levels always drop in people with chronic inflammation such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. We can see from the news that obese and diabetic people are at high risk for Covid-19, “Kumrungsee said.
“Therefore, our effort in this paper is to shed light on the potential impact of vitamin B6 in reducing the severity of Covid-19.”
The associate professor said she is looking forward to clinical trials that would test their hypothesis.
“There is a great deal of interest in studying whether vitamin B6 provides protection against novel strains of virus and major outbreaks that may occur in the future. nutrition protection against influenza and lung infections, “she said.
“After Covid-19, we should improve the nutritional range for lung diseases such as pneumonia and lung cancer.”