The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having enormous effects on all aspects of our society. The focus of medical and public health authorities is, understandably, on trying to find the best ways to determine who has the virus, how to reduce spread of the virus, and how to treat those who become very ill with the virus.
However, what is also required, is a focus on what measures can be taken to reduce the number of people who become seriously ill and require hospitalization. This is the most important variable determining the overall impact of the pandemic. The level of crisis will be determined by the level of overburden on the hospital system which results in a lack of available beds. The system simply cannot handle huge numbers of people requiring hospitalization at the same time and, if the available beds all become occupied, there will be people who could have been saved that will end up dying as a result of the lack of these resources. This scenario represents the real threat and the real source of tragedy – and the real source of panic.
The real impact of the pandemic on the population, on the healthcare system, and on the financial system, will ultimately be determined not by the number of people who get infected, but by the ratio of the number of people who become infected and recover without the need for hospitalization vs the number of people who become infected and become seriously ill and require hospitalization. This ratio is EVERYTHING because it is what determines whether the healthcare system will become overburdened and this is what will determine the level of panic in the population, in the healthcare system, and in the financial markets.
The ultimate question then is, what are the best ways to reduce the percentage of people who become infected who become seriously ill or, to put it another way, what are the best ways to increase the percentage of people who become infected who do not become seriously ill.
The undeniable fact is level of baseline health and immune function status are the most significant variables determining whether or not those who get infected become seriously ill and require hospitalization or recover without any such burden on the healthcare system. The CDC has been adamant from the beginning that those who are at most risk of serious illness from Covid-19 are those who are either immunocompromised from pre-existing illness or who have reduced immune function due to old age.
I submit that it is not simply age that is the determining factor but immune function. Though it is true that many elderly do indeed have reduced immune function, there are also many elderly who have adequate immune function. The VAST majority of people, even those who are elderly and/or have comorbidities with not require hospitalization or die from COVID thus these variables alone cannot be the determining factors.
Thus, the most important question is, what variable(s) are determining why the VAST majority of people infected with Covid-19, in all age cohorts, including the elderly, recover without the need for hospitalization while a small percentage require hospitalization and and/or die?
The determining variable cannot be medical treatment; at the present time there are no widely used anti-viral treatments or any other medical interventions for Covid-19 to prevent hospitalization or prevent death. It does appear the vaccines may reduce the risk of severe illness, but, ironically, the vaccines are least effective for the elderly and those with comorbidities, the very people most at risk from severe COVID-19 outcomes. Further, the most important variable determining effectiveness of a vaccine or of natural immunity, is the level of function of your immune system!
What this means is that, regardless of age, the most significant determining variable with respect to the ratio of those who get infected and recover without serious illness vs those who get infected and do get seriously ill, require hospitalization, and/or die, is the level of individual baseline health and immune function status of those who become infected.
The question being begged is, are there any evidence-based or evidence-informed ways to improve baseline health and/or immune system function status, and thus reduce the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19? The answer is, YES!
PLEASE read my articles summarizing the clinical evidence for Omega-3 and Vitamin D supplementation reducing the risk and severity of COVID-19 (The Essential Role of Omega-3 and Vitamins A and D in Viral Immune Defense; OmegA+D Sufficiency for COVID-19 and FLU Prevention and Risk Reduction: An Evidence-Based Protocol that MUST be Universally Implemented; Evidence-Based COVID-19 Prevention and Risk Reduction: A Literature Summary with Clinical Recommendations; Over 100 Scientists and Doctors Call for Vit D Supplementation to Combat COVID-19).
We know how the immune system responds to viruses and we know that the human immune system is, when not in a compromised state, capable of resolving infection from Covid-19 without serious complications. Remember, the data is clear, the VAST majority of humans who get infected with Covid-19 recover without serious complications. Medicine and the mass media always tend to focus on the sick, on the small percentage of people who get seriously ill and die. But the answers don’t lie with the sick, the answers lie with the healthy!
Let’s dive a little deeper. We know the Covid-19 virus is a constant; the same virus is infecting everyone. We know that immune status is plastic and can be in a state ranging from highly compromised function to optimal function. We know immune status is a significant determining variable in immune defense against Covid-19 and all other respiratory viruses, including influenza (FLU).
So, the most important questions are, what factors cause immunocompromise and what factors are required to improve current immune function and/or to express optimal immune function? Let’s start with known factors that cause immunocompromise.
The CDC is very clear that underlying health conditions such as chronic lung disease like COPD or asthma, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disease all cause immune system compromise. Further, many prescription medications such as corticosteroids, cancer treatment medications, and many others can cause immune system compromise. People who smoke or consume too much alcohol or other drugs are also often immunocompromised. We also know that air pollution is a major risk factor for respiratory infection and death; 7 million people die each year from air pollution worldwide. Emotional stress, sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, and sedentary lifestyle can also cause immunocompromise.
We also know that immune status can be positively influenced by lifestyle choice. The literature is clear that proper sleep, healthy emotional states (and lowered emotional stress), proper nutrition, and sufficient exercise are all requirements for healthy immune function, and all have been shown to improve immune function status. Conversely, unhealthy lifestyle habits have been shown to compromise immune function.
There simply is no scientific or logical reason not to make efforts to improve baseline health and immune function or not to conclude that doing so would be beneficial for those exposed to the virus causing COVID-19; immune status is undeniably a major factor in determining how seriously ill any individual becomes when exposed to the Covid-19, vaccinated or not!
The next question being begged is, what can individuals do to reduce immunocompromise and/or to improve immune function? A logical strategy is to immediately implement emotional fitness and wellbeing strategies, healthy sleep strategies, physical fitness strategies, and healthy nutrition strategies. Everyone should be incorporating daily positive emotion or stress reduction activities, some physical activity, even if just going for a walk, and healthier eating strategies such as drinking more water, eating more raw fruits and vegetables, and eating less unhealthy foods.
One other thing people should be doing, is making sure they are getting sufficient intake of essential nutrients. Research clearly shows that Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D are all required for proper immune function and that deficient intake leads to immune function compromise.
Let’s look deeper into the research highlighting the importance of sufficient Vitamin D intake for proper immune function as well as the immunocompromising effects of deficient Vitamin D intake. I think the systematic review by Martineau et al. published in the British Medical Journal in 2017 is an excellent focal point.
Martineau et al. Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data. BMJ 2017;356: i6583
Objectives: To assess the overall effect of vitamin D supplementation on risk of acute respiratory tract infection, and to identify factors modifying this effect.
Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data (IPD) from randomised controlled trials.
*Note that these authors did not simply analyze or pool the results of the studies, instead, they did a review and meta-analysis of the individual participant data (IPD) or raw data from these studies. This is VERY IMPORTANT and a MUCH MORE VALID way to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis because it allows comparative analyses based on outcome-effecting variables or criteria that may not have been taken into account in the statistical analyses in the original studies. Important examples include looking at variables such as vitamin D status of subjects at baseline, the dose of vitamin D provided to subjects during the study, and/or the delivery method such as the inclusion or exclusion of a bolus [single injected megadose] dose of Vit D.
As you will see, these criteria turned out to be very important both in terms of eliciting benefit but also in terms of explaining the heterogeneity of results (difference in outcomes) among published studies. Heterogeneity of results is often used when evaluating quality or level of evidence to downgrade the level of evidence. This is far too often done without taking into account variables that can explain the heterogeneity of results. Heterogeneity of results is not in itself a valid measure of quality of evidence. One must look at the validity of each of the studies or, as in the case of this review, one can do an analysis of individual participant data from available studies and validly analyze these data.
“Randomised controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of acute respiratory tract infection have yielded conflicting results.”
“Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis has the potential to identify factors that may explain this heterogeneity, but this has not previously been performed.”
Many who are ignorant of variables that can affect outcomes simply conclude, because there are some studies that show benefit of vitamin D supplementation for improving immune system function and/or the prevention of and/or lessening the severity of viral respiratory tract infections, and some that show no benefit, that this means that there is a lack of valid evidence of benefit. The truth is, however, that the studies that showed no benefit were flawed due to improper controlling of variables that can affect the outcome. Sadly, many of these studies are deliberately biased because Vitamin D gets superior results to patented prescription medications or flu vaccines.
“While study level factors are amenable to exploration through aggregate data meta-analysis of published data, potential effect modifiers operating at an individual level, such as baseline vitamin D status, can only be explored using individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis. This is because subgroups are not consistently disaggregated in trial reports, and adjustments for potential confounders cannot be applied similarly across trials.”
“To identify factors that might explain the observed heterogeneity of results from randomised controlled trials, we undertook an IPD [individual patient data] meta-analysis based on all 25 randomised controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation for prevention of acute respiratory tract infection that were completed up to the end of December 2015.” WELL DONE!!
Results:
“25 eligible randomised controlled trials (total 11 321 participants, aged 0 to 95 years) were identified. IPD [individual patient data] were obtained for 10 933 (96.6%) participants.”
“Vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of acute respiratory tract infection among all participants.”
“In subgroup analysis, protective effects were seen in those receiving daily or weekly vitamin D without additional bolus doses but not in those receiving one or more bolus doses.”
This is EXTREMELY important because MANY studies include bolus doses – this is because if Vit D is injected in a bolus dose it requires a prescription and a medical practitioner to administer it! Even though the evidence is clear that bolus doses are much less effective, many studies after this review still use them and then claim that Vit D has no benefit. There is a HUGE bias against non-drug and non-medical interventions (see the citations from Dr. Linda Beskin’s article {Benskin, L. (2020) A Basic Review of Preliminary Evidence That COVID-19 Risk and Severity Is Increased in Vitamin D Deficiency. Frontiers in Public Health. Vol 8, Article 513} in my article ‘Evidence-Based COVID-19 and FLU Prevention and Risk Reduction: A Literature Summary and Supplementation Protocol’).
“Among those receiving daily or weekly vitamin D, protective effects were stronger in those with baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels <25 nmol/L than in those with baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels ≥25 nmol/L.”
“The body of evidence contributing to these analyses was assessed as being of high quality.”
Conclusions: “Vitamin D supplementation was safe and it protected against acute respiratory tract infection overall. Patients who were very vitamin D deficient and those not receiving bolus doses experienced the most benefit.”
“These findings support the introduction of public health measures such as food fortification to improve vitamin D status, particularly in settings where profound vitamin D deficiency is common.”
*Keep in mind that the literature indicates that vitamin D deficiency is VERY common in the industrial world. We get very little sun exposure, when we are outside we are usually covered in clothes or sunscreen, both of which block sun exposure and thus block vitamin D production, and, the industrial diet is deficient in vitamin D. This is especially true for the elderly, especially those who are ill and frail and who spend most of their time indoors in care homes.
Most Clinically Relevant Information from Study
“Acute respiratory tract infections are a major cause of global morbidity and mortality and are responsible for 10% of ambulatory and emergency department visits in the USA and an estimated 2.65 million deaths worldwide in 2013.” THIS IS PRIOR TO COVID!!!
“Observational studies report consistent independent associations between low serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (the major circulating vitamin D metabolite) and susceptibility to acute respiratory tract infection. 25-hydroxyvitamin D supports induction of antimicrobial peptides [defensin, cathelicidin] in response to both viral and bacterial stimuli, suggesting a potential mechanism by which vitamin D inducible protection against respiratory pathogens might be mediated.”
The T-Cells of your innate immune system have Vitamin D receptors because they need Vitamin D to function properly – they need Vitamin D to produce their antiviral peptides (defensin and cathelicidin) which kill viruses and the Treg cells (T-Regulatory Cells) need Vitamin D to prevent hyperinflammatory responses such as seen in “Cytokine Storm” which is actually what kills people with COVID or pneumonia.
“Vitamin D metabolites have also been reported to induce other innate antimicrobial effector mechanisms, including induction of autophagy and synthesis of reactive nitrogen intermediates and reactive oxygen intermediates.”
“People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who have lower baseline vitamin D status have been reported to derive greater clinical benefit from supplementation than those with higher baseline status, and participant characteristics such as age and body mass index have been reported to modify the 25-hydroxyvitamin D response to vitamin D supplementation.”
*Note that people with COPD, one of the main underlying conditions associated with worse COVID-19 infection outcomes, who also have low vitamin D status, have been reported to derive greater benefit from supplementation with vitamin D. The same is true for the obese and diabetic.
“Treatment with large boluses of vitamin D has been associated with reduced efficacy for non-classic effects, and in some cases an increased risk of adverse outcomes.”
Yet recent studies on Vit D completely ignore the above variables, even though this systematic review was published in 2017!
“Why might use of bolus dose vitamin D be ineffective for prevention of acute respiratory tract infection? One explanation relates to the potentially adverse effects of wide fluctuations in circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, which are seen after use of bolus doses but not with daily or weekly supplementation.”
“Vieth has proposed that high circulating concentrations after bolus dosing may chronically dysregulate activity of enzymes responsible for synthesis and degradation of the active vitamin D metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, resulting in decreased concentrations of this metabolite in extra-renal tissues. Such an effect could attenuate the ability of 25-hydroxyvitamin D to support protective immune responses to respiratory pathogens.”
“In this model, interaction terms for baseline vitamin D status and dosing frequency were statistically significant, but the interaction term for age was not, consistent with the hypothesis that baseline vitamin D status and dosing frequency, but not age, independently modified the effect of vitamin D supplementation on risk of acute respiratory tract infection.”
This is VERY important because it shows that the benefits of vit D supplementation were seen across all age groups. The heterogeneity of results was highly affected by baseline vit D status (lower the baseline level of vit D the more the benefit – makes sense) and by whether or not subjects received a large bolus dose (receiving a large bolus dose, even if also received normal daily doses, virtually erased benefit), but NOT AGE.
Even the elderly have immune system function benefits and clinical benefits in the form of protection from acute respiratory tract infections from daily doses of vitamin D! Put that into the context of the current COVID-19 crisis!
“Moreover, use of daily or weekly vitamin D also protected against acute respiratory tract infection among participants with higher baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations.”
Again, VERY IMPORTANT. Daily or weekly doses of vitamin D were even effective for people with higher baseline levels of vit D but adding a bolus or mega dose was not. Further, as above, adding a bolus dose not only was not effective for patients with low or higher baseline vitamin D levels, adding a bolus dose to a daily or weekly dose actually erased the benefits from these daily or weekly doses in patients with low or higher baseline vitamin D levels.
“Notably, bolus dose vitamin D supplementation did not offer any protection against acute respiratory tract infection even when administered to those with circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations less than 25 nmol/L.”
Yet, inexplicably, many vitamin D studies still administer high bolus doses of vitamin D while also neglecting to take into account baseline vitamin D levels of subjects in their analyses. These studies then conclude that vitamin D supplementation is ineffective. These studies are then used to state that the research on vitamin D is heterogeneous and thus inconclusive. AAARGGGHHH.
One VERY IMPORTANT VARIABLE that even these authors did not take into account, is the importance of the synergistic effects of vitamins A and D. The vitamin A sufficiency/deficiency status of subjects in these studies, though a variable shown in other studies (see below) to be significant, was not taken into consideration in this systematic review and is not taken into account in the vitamin D supplementation studies.
Importance of Supplementing Vitamin A and D Together and in Proper Ratio
Here are a few citations showing the synergistic effects of Vitamins A and D and why it is so important to ensure they are supplemented together – it was this research that was the impetus of me creating OmegA+D Sufficiency!!
Mawson, A. (2013) Role of Fat-Soluble Vitamins A and D in Pathogenesis of Influenza: A New Perspective. Infectious Diseases http://dx.doi.org/10.5402/2013/246737.
“This paper presents a new model of the etiopathogenesis of influenza, suggesting that host resistance and susceptibility depend importantly on the ratio of vitamin D to vitamin A activity. Retinoid concentrations within normal physiological limits appear to inhibit influenza pathogenesis whereas higher background concentrations (i.e., very low vitamin D : A ratios) increase the risk of severe complications of the disease.”
Ikeda, U et al. 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 and all-trans retinoic acid synergistically inhibit the differentiation and expansion of Th17 cells. Immunology Letters 2010. 134(1):7-16.
“The active form of vitamin D3 is an immunoregulatory hormone with beneficial effects on Th1 cell-mediated inflammatory diseases.”
“Thus, we initially reveal that Vit D and Vit A have synergistic effects on the generation of Th17 cells, suggesting that the combination would provide a promising novel therapy for Th17 cell-related immune diseases including skin inflammation.”
Bettoun Burris, et al. Retinoid X Receptor Is a Nonsilent Major Contributor to Vitamin D Receptor-Mediated Transcriptional Activation. Molecular Endocrinology 17: 2320–2328, 2003
“In summary, we describe a unique and unexpected facet of intermolecular cross-talk between VDR and RXR and demonstrate that RXR actively participates in RXR-VDR-mediated gene transcription by directly recruiting coactivators in response to 1,25-(OH)2D3.”
In layperson terms vitamin A (retinoid) is required to activate the expression of vitamin D controlled genes. In other words, without sufficient amounts of vitamin A, the actions of vitamin D can be impaired or even blocked. Vitamin A and Vitamin D work synergistically.
Levine, SA. The importance of a balanced approach to vitamin D supplementation. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine. 2011;26(1):15-20.
“Vitamin A and vitamin D balance, enhance, and contain each other through the retinoid X receptor (RXR).”
“Because they share a receptor, if we supplement either vitamin D or vitamin A in an unbalanced fashion, we create a functional deficiency of the one not supplemented.” WOW!!!
This is EXACTLY why I created OmegA+D Sufficiency which contains half omega-3 fish oil and half cod liver oil which contains naturally occurring, fully formed Vitamin A and D. I also add extra Vitamin D to ensure sufficient daily intake of the 3 MOST IMPORTANT essential nutrients for immune system defense against viruses such as influenza, coronavirus, and rhinovirus – Omega-3, Vit A, and Vit D. There simply is not a more important, more effective, more beneficial, or more valuable supplement in the world.
Clinical Studies Showing Benefit of Vitamin D Supplementation
Urashima, M. et al. (2010) Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren. Am J Clin Nutr 2010;91:1255–60.
“This study suggests that vitamin D3 supplementation during the winter may reduce the incidence of influenza A, especially in specific subgroups of schoolchildren [those low in Vit D].”
Aloia, J et al. Epidemic Influenza and Vitamin D. Epidemiology and Infection 2007, Vol 135 (7) pp. 1095-1098
In a 3 year trial taking 800 IU/day of Vitamin D reduced the incidence of colds and flu by 70%.
After two years they increased the Vit D to 2000 IU/day and the incidence of colds and flu was reduced by almost 100% (only 1 of 104 subjects developed cold or flu in the final year).
Camargo, C.A.; Ganmaa, D.; Frazier, A.L.; Kirchberg, F.F.; Stuart, J.J.; Kleinman, K.; Sumberzul, N.; Rich-Edwards, J.W. Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation and risk of acute respiratory infection in Mongolia. Pediatrics 2012, 130, e561–e567.
“WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: In a randomized controlled trial of 247 Mongolian children with vitamin D deficiency in winter, with double-blinding and 99% follow-up, vitamin D supplementation significantly halved the risk of acute respiratory infections.”
MAIN SELF-HEALTH GEMS
The better the baseline health and immunity of individuals exposed to the Covid-19 virus, the less likelihood of those individuals becoming very ill and taxing what may become an overburdened healthcare system – at least in some cities. Improving baseline health and immunity is not just the best way to help prevent serious illness from COVID-19, it is also the best way to prevent crashing the healthcare system and, by extension, to avoid preventable deaths.
The truth is, and this is the most important thing to realize, every citizen should be focusing on strategies to improve baseline health and immunity ALL THE TIME, not just during a crisis.
I have been teaching and preaching this for decades! This is the entire premise of my book, “Live Right for Your Species Type: The BioLOGICAL Wellness and Prevention Solution, and the entire basis of my Eat Well – Move Well – Think Well® On-Line Lifestyle Plan.
We are living in the midst of one of the greatest teaching moments in history regarding the importance of restoring and maintaining health vs treating disease. No amount of disease treatment, no amounts of drugs or vaccines or surgeries will ever increase baseline health; only health restoring and maintaining interventions can restore or maintain baseline health.
Evidence-Based COVID-19/Influenza Prevention and Risk Reduction Supplementation Protocol
Szabo, Z et al. (2020) The Potential Beneficial Effect of EPA and DHA Supplementation Managing Cytokine Storm in Coronavirus Disease. Frontiers in Physiology 11: Article 752
“Summary: Based on the available data, the supplementation of EPA and DHA in COVID-19 patients appears to have potential beneficial effect in managing the “cytokine storm.””
“Therefore, the use of EPA and DHA supplementation should be considered as both a supportive therapy and a prevention strategy in SARS-Cov-2 infection.”
Grant et al. (April 2020) Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths Nutrients 12, 988; doi:10.3390/nu12040988
“To reduce the risk of infection, it is recommended that people at risk of influenza and/or COVID-19 consider taking 10,000 IU/d of vitamin D3 for a few weeks to rapidly raise 25(OH)D concentrations, followed by 5000 IU/d.”
“The goal should be to raise 25(OH)D concentrations above 40–60 ng/mL (100–150 nmol/L).”
“For treatment of people who become infected with COVID-19, higher vitamin D3 doses might be useful.”
Bettoun Burris, et al. Retinoid X Receptor Is a Nonsilent Major Contributor to Vitamin D Receptor-Mediated Transcriptional Activation. Molecular Endocrinology 17: 2320–2328, 2003
“In summary, we describe a unique and unexpected facet of intermolecular cross-talk between VDR and RXR and demonstrate that RXR actively participates in RXR-VDR-mediated gene transcription by directly recruiting coactivators in response to 1,25-(OH)2D3.”
In layperson terms vitamin A (retinoid) is required to activate the expression of vitamin D controlled genes. In other words, without sufficient amounts of vitamin A, the actions of vitamin D can be impaired or even blocked. Vitamin A and Vitamin D work synergistically.
Mawson, A. (2013) Role of Fat-Soluble Vitamins A and D in Pathogenesis of Influenza: A New Perspective. Infectious Diseases http://dx.doi.org/10.5402/2013/246737.
“This paper presents a new model of the etiopathogenesis of influenza, suggesting that host resistance and susceptibility depend importantly on the ratio of vitamin D to vitamin A activity.”
“Retinoid [Vit A] concentrations within normal physiological limits appear to inhibit influenza pathogenesis whereas higher background concentrations [i.e., very low vitamin D:A ratios] increase the risk of severe complications of the disease.”
Prietl, B. et al. (2013) Vitamin D and Immune Function. Nutrients, 5, 2502-2521; doi: 10.3390/nu5072502
“Besides enhancing chemotaxis and phagocytic capabilities of innate immune cells, the complex of calcitriol [Vit D], VDR [Vit D Receptor], and retinoid X [Vit A] receptor directly activates the transcription of antimicrobial peptides such as defensin β2 and cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides.”
Vitamin A and D TOGETHER activate the transcription (production/epigenetic expression) of AMPs (anti-microbial proteins) by innate immune cells (macrophages and neutrophils) which KILL VIRUSES.
Levine, SA. The importance of a balanced approach to vitamin D supplementation. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine. 2011;26(1):15-20.
“Vitamin A and vitamin D balance, enhance, and contain each other through the retinoid X receptor (RXR).”
“Because they share a receptor, if we supplement either vitamin D or vitamin A in an unbalanced fashion, we create a functional deficiency of the one not supplemented.”
The Scientific Evidence is Clear that:
1. sufficient intake of omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamins A + D is essential for immune function, especially immune defense against Influenza (flu), Rhino (cold) , and Corona (covid) viruses
2. deficiencies in these essential nutrients leads to reduced baseline immune defense against these viruses and/or to increased hyper-inflammatory responses to these viruses leading to cytokine storm and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
3. supplementation with sufficient daily amounts (not mega or bolus doses) of these essential nutrients has been clinically shown to decrease inflammation and thus the risk of cytokine storm and/or ARDS and/or to decrease the risk of infection and/or reduce severity of infection from these viruses
4. the Vitamin A and Vitamin D receptors on immune cells (phagocytes and T-cells) require proper synergistic amounts of both Vitamins A and Vitamin D to properly up-regulate these receptors to allow sufficient intake of these vitamins into the immune cells to express proper immune function
5. Innate Choice OmegA+D Sufficiency is the only supplement in the world that combines fish oil, cod liver oil (with naturally occurring pre-formed Vitamins A and D), and extra vitamin D in order to provide sufficient amounts of Omega-3 and Vitamins A and D, AND, provide the proper synergistic amounts of Vitamins A and D
Thus, I have developed the following evidence-based COVID-19/Influenza prevention and risk reduction supplementation protocol and adamantly state that this should become standard of care.
GEL CAPS:
First month – 4 caps of OmegA+D Sufficiency™ and 12 drops of Vitamin D Sufficiency DAILY;
This provides 10,000 IU/day of Vitamin D and sufficient and synergistic amounts of Omega-3 and Vitamin A.
Ongoing – 4 caps of OmegA+D Sufficiency™ and 2 drops of Vitamin D Sufficiency DAILY;
This provides 5,000 IU/day of Vitamin D and sufficient and synergistic amounts of Omega-3 and Vitamin A.
