Vitamin C is crucial for the human body’s continuous sustenance. This means that people must consume it as part of their diet or in the form of supplements. Food with a high Vitamin C rate is Brussels sprouts, potatoes, broccoli, oranges, and tomatoes. The vitamin plays several critical roles in the body, such as the formation of cartilage, blood vessels, and collagen.
Recently, the outbreak of Coronavirus has led scientists to explore effective treatments for immunity against the virus. As per researchers, two strategies are needed to fight Coronavirus. The first is to ensure that individuals have a sound immune system so that virus does not get the chance to replicate itself in the body. The second strategy is to avoid an excessive immune response that the virus might be able to generate. For this reason, scientists have started experimenting with repurposing drugs that are known to have established safety profiles like that of Vitamin-C. This vitamin is known to be a good antioxidant and immune booster, making it the primary choice for finding a solution against COVID-19.
A recent report has suggested that conditions like osteoarthritis and, in some cases, normal aging is associated with downregulation with one or several subtypes of Vitamin – C transporter. The biggest concern about combating the virus is that people who are most likely to contract it have lower Vitamin C levels. Having fewer transporters means that even though supplements for the vitamin are given, they will have less benefit. The new report is an essential contribution for Vitamin C Market as it not only outlines the importance of vitamin-C in fighting the ongoing pandemic but also describes the patients who most likely need a consistent dose of it.
The report stated that most people who are at risk from the virus include black, male, older people who suffer from chronic diseases like diabetes, osteoarthritis, and hypertension. People from this category also tend to have lower levels of Vitamin-C. Thus, Vitamin-C therapy is suggested as a reasonable treatment. Another reason for this therapy is that while going through the COVID-19, patients might develop a deficiency of vitamin-C because the vitamin is consumed more rapidly during an infection. This may result in increased damage due to an overzealous immune response.
Transporter expression can be measured in the body through PCR technology, a method used to test the novel Coronavirus. However, further research requires to be done to increase transporter expression in humans, which grows less with age. This is because the reduced immune function in the elderly puts them at increased risks to diseases like Coronavirus and COVID-19. Researchers have shown an inclination to further their study of finding a drug that can directly increase expression resulting in better health of older individuals or people with other medical conditions.