Cow Milk Contains Virus Inhibiting Proteins That Can Fight COVID-19

Cow milk contains proteins with virus inhibiting properties that can help prevent coronavirus from replicating in a person's body, according to a study.

The protein lactoferrin is found in the milk of most mammals. Researchers from the University of Michigan found that bovine lactoferrin, from cow milk, has bioactive characteristics against many microbes, viruses, and other pathogens.

It has also been found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection under experimental conditions by blocking the ability of the virus to enter target cells, as well as by supporting cells' antiviral defence mechanisms.

"Bovine lactoferrin has shown antiviral activity in human clinical trials," said lead investigator Jonathan Sexton, from the varsity's Department of Internal Medicine.

"For example, orally administered bovine lactoferrin has been shown to improve the severity of viral infections, including rotavirus and norovirus. Given the broad antiviral efficacy and safety, minimal side effects, and commercial availability of bovine lactoferrin, several review papers have suggested using it as a preventive or post-exposure treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection," he added.

The findings are detailed in the Journal of Dairy Science.

With the goal of improving clinical relevance and translatability, the team tested bovine lactoferrin against some of the most common SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern from around the world, including the WA1 variant representative of the US outbreak in 2020, the B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 variants, and the Delta variant.

"Each of these variants includes modifications to the SARS-Cov-2 spike protein that reduce the efficacy of newly produced vaccines. Furthermore, each of these strains shows reduced neutralisation by vaccination sera," Sexton explained.

A key benefit of the broad antiviral efficacy of lactoferrin is its potential for the prevention or treatment of emerging diseases.

"This is especially important when there are limited treatment options, or when the treatment options are too costly for widespread use. An orally available therapeutic that covers emerging strains would be ideal for treating SARS-CoV-2 in areas without widespread vaccination or if new strains escape the vaccine," Sexton said.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Importance of Vitamin D in COVID prevention

Importance of Vitamin D in COVID prevention

Vitamin D has been recommended by many experts as a preventive treatment for COVID-19 infection. Vitamin D is produced in the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Staying indoors hinders the vitamin D level in the body. During COVID-19 surge, when everyone is suggested to stay indoors, it is very essential to check the vitamin D level in the body.

COVID-19 lockdown vs Vitamin D requirement

While there is no direct evidence on the effect of vitamin D in COVID-19 treatment, owing to its role in controlling inflammation it is being considered as a preventive treatment by experts. COVID-19 infection leads to myocarditis, microvascular thrombosis and/or cytokine storms all of which involve inflammation. The primary role of vitamin D is to boost the immunity and ease inflammation and this is probably why there are suggestions on increasing vitamin D intake to prevent COVID-19. Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with an increase in inflammatory cytokines.

Partly due to government orders and partly due to concern for their own health, people are preferring to stay indoors these days. While on one hand it is a blessing as community spread of the coronavirus is curbed to a certain extent, but on the other hand it can trigger a decline in Vitamin D level in the body.

What do experts say?

"Our opinion is that if vitamin D does in fact reduce the severity of COVID-19 with regard to pneumonia/ARDS, inflammation, inflammatory cytokines, and thrombosis, then supplements would offer a relatively easy option to decrease the impact of the pandemic," says a group of researchers at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.

"Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increase in inflammatory cytokines and a significantly increased risk of pneumonia and viral upper respiratory tract infections. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increase in thrombotic episodes, which are frequently observed in COVID-19. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to occur more frequently in patients with obesity and diabetes. These conditions are reported to carry a higher mortality in COVID-19," the researchers also say.

As per the Harvard School of Public Health, in a study of the seasonal and pandemic flu caused by H1N1 virus in 2009 it was observed that vitamin D supplementation lowered the odds of developing acute respiratory tract infections by 12% to 75%. "The beneficial effect of supplementation was seen in patients across all ages, and individuals with pre-existing chronic illnesses. Among those who were infected, flu symptoms were fewer and recovery was earlier if they had received doses of vitamin D greater than 1000 IU. The benefits were relatively greater in individuals with vitamin D deficiency than in those who had adequate levels of vitamin D," the Harvard article says.

What should be the immediate response?

One should take expert suggestions regarding vitamin D supplements. Apart from this, one should expose the skin to sunlight for a few minutes every day. One should add food rich in vitamin D in their daily diet. Foods like fatty fish like salmon, cod liver oil, mushroom, cow milk, soya milk, and eggs are rich in vitamin D. It is usually seen that older individuals are always deficient in micronutrients. Supplementation is a necessity for people belonging to this age group.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

 

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