At Studio You, we will support you in these challenging times of COVID-19, but we also will not add to any hysteria and confusion about this virus.
As a research based clinic we are closely following the data coming out of China. What we have seen is some very promising information about various natural medicines. Our goal is to strengthen your immune system and limit the exposure you have to contracting COVID-19.
We already offer online consultations for our patients based overseas and interstate. But even if you live down the road from our clinic, we offer online consultations – via Skype, Facetime, Whatsapp, and phone.
It is our preference that you do not miss out on vital health information and continue to receive research based advice from our health practitioners. We have increased the number of appointments available over the next month to accommodate the increase in demand.
What is coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, seven of which are currently known to infect humans. Four of these strains cause minor symptoms similar to the common cold and two are more severe diseases including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). COVID-19 is the latest strain to have been identified within this family of viruses
How is it spreading?
Transmission of COVID-19 occurs when infected droplets are distributed via human-to-human contact, usually when a sick person coughs or sneezes. It may also be spread via contact with contaminated objects as human coronaviruses can remain infectious on inanimate surfaces for up to 9 days. Airborne spread has not been reported for COVID-19 and it is not believed to be a major driver of transmission.
Despite reports of more than 171,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, only 337 cases have originated within Australia. Further to this, the case fatality rate is approximately 3.6% of confirmed cases reported globally, with an estimated 80% of laboratory confirmed patients experiencing only mild to moderate symptoms followed by recovery. Additionally, disease in children appears to be relatively rare. But, COVID-19 is certainly an issue in our older population so make sure to check that your elderly neighbours and family have toilet paper and a nice bowl of Immune Boosting Soup delivered to their door!
On Tuesday this week Emma jumped on a Facebook live to share with you her tips and tricks to building immune boosting habits. You can watch it all here >>
In this blog, we are going to take a deep dive into two of our very favorite nutrients for anti viral support – Vitamin C and zinc. This information may be a little technical for some BUT we want you to know how these natural medicines actually work.
Vitamin C and its role in Immunity
- Vitamin C supports various cellular functions by reducing inflammation
- Vitamin C has crucial influence in the production of the anti-viral immune response during the early phase of viral infection through the production of type I interferons, which up-regulate Natural killer (NK) cell activity
- Vitamin C supports the production of interferons, necessary for cells to initiate protective defences
- Vitamin C supports the production of large quantities of nitrogen oxide necessary to capture and neutralize pathogens
- Vitamin C enhances the production of T lymphocytes, necessary for cell mediated immune responses
- Vitamin C increases the production of B-lymphocytes, crucial for the early phase response to infective pathogens.
- Vitamin C deficiency may result in a weakened immune system with a higher risk of infection
- Findings have indicated that ascorbic acid can be used as an inactivating agent for both RNA and DNA viruses, lessening viral infectivity
Intravenous Vitamin C
We have a clinical nurse that administers intravenous Vitamin C infusions at our clinic. Have a read of the research below as we are closely following the data coming out of China currently.
(Please contact our nurse Emma directly on 1800 961 922 to book your IV Vitamin C. A 15g infusion cost $179 and a 30g infusion is $229)
COVID-19 RESEARCH:
The investigator of the clinical trial on IV Vitamin C said the IV administration of 24 grams of vitamin C per day to COVID-19 patients leads to significant reductions in inflammation: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04264533
Dr. Richard Cheng, a US board-certified specialist in anti-aging medicine reports from China about the first approved study of 12,000 to 24,000 mg/day of vitamin C by IV.
2nd clinical trial: http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n11.shtml
IV Vitamin C approved for use:
Shanghai government officially recommends IV Vit C for COVID-19: http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n16.shtml
Case study of a woman cured from COVID-19 with IV Vit C: http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n17.shtml
Dosage guide for IV Vit C: http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n07.shtml
Zinc and its role in Immunity
- Zinc deficiency has been associated with impaired cellular mediators of the innate immune system such as phagocytosis and natural killer cell activity
- B cells and T cells depend on zinc for proliferation, zinc deficiency will reduce antibody-mediated immune defence
- Increased intracellular zinc impairs replication of a number of RNA viruses by interfering with viral polyprotein processing
References
- World Health Organisation. Report of the WHO-China joint mission on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). China: World Health Organisation; 2020 Feb 24. p. 40. Report No.: 1.
- Australian Government Department of Health. Coronavirus (COVID-19) health alert [Internet]. Canberra ACT: Australian Government Department of Health; 2020 [2020 mar 11; cited 2020 mar 11]. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert#current-status.
- 11 World Health Organisation. Report of the WHO-China joint mission on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). China: World Health Organisation; 2020 Feb 24. p. 40. Report No.: 1.
- 12 World Health Organisation. Report of the WHO-China joint mission on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). China: World Health Organisation; 2020 Feb 24. p. 40. Report No.: 1.
- https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf.
- Beveridge, S, Wintergerst, E. S., Maggini, S., & Hornig, D. (2008). Immune-enhancing role of vitamin C and zinc and effect on clinical conditions. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 67(OCE).
- Carr, A., & Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211.
- Chambial, S, Dwivedi, S., Shukla, K. K., John, P. J., & Sharma, P. (2013). Vitamin C in Disease Prevention and Cure: An Overview. Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, 28(4), 314–328
- Embleton ND, Berrington JE, McGuire W, et al. (2013). Lactoferrin: Antimicrobial activity and therapeutic potential. Seminars in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 18(3), 143–149.
- Haase H, Rink, L. (2009). The immune system and the impact of zinc during aging. Immunity & Ageing, 6(1), 9.
- Jariwalla RJ, Harakeh S. (1996). Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Activities of Ascorbic Acid. Subcellular Biochemistry, 215–231.
- Kim Y, Kim H, Bae S, et al. (2013). Vitamin C Is an Essential Factor on the Anti-viral Immune Responses through the Production of Interferon-α/β at the Initial Stage of Influenza A Virus (H3N2) Infection. Immune Network, 13(2), 70.
- Legrand, D. (2016). Overview of Lactoferrin as a Natural Immune Modulator. The Journal of Pediatrics, 173, S10–S15.
- Prasad, A. (2008). Molecular Medicine, 14(5-6), 1.
- Ran, L., Zhao, W., Wang, J., Wang, H., Zhao, Y., Tseng, Y., & Bu, H. (2018). Extra Dose of Vitamin C Based on a Daily Supplementation Shortens the Common Cold: A Meta-Analysis of 9 Randomized Controlled Trials. BioMed Research International, 2018, 1–12
- Siqueiros-Cendón, T, Arévalo-Gallegos S, Iglesias-Figueroa, et al. (2014). Immunomodulatory effects of lactoferrin. Acta Pharmacologic Sinica, 35(5), 557–566.
- Te Velthuis AJW, van den Worm SHE, Sims AC, et al. (2010). Zn2+ Inhibits Coronavirus and Arterivirus RNA Polymerase Activity In Vitro and Zinc Ionophores Block the Replication of These Viruses in Cell Culture. PLoS Pathogens, 6(11), e1001176.
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