Since the COVID outbreak, several research have been published about its mutating abilities, risk increases, comorbidities, and susceptibilities. We’ve been intently following studies as they are emerging and of particular interest to us have been the roles of nutrigenomic and inflammatory pathways in this disease.
A study from Boston University has found that nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB) inflammatory pathway is primary to the severity and complications of this deadly infection. The in-press copy of this study is available on our COVID tab. Scheduled for publication in the December, 2020 issue of Cell Stem Cell journal, the study found that SARS-CoV-2 infected cells had rapid transcriptomic changes due to NF-kB inflammatory signaling. With this discovery, targeted drug development can be more successful for those infected. But what about prevention and what does this mean for those with chronic inflammation and low grade inflammation?
NF-kB inflammatory pathway has been studied extensively for its influence in disease development. In Functional Medicine, we explore this pathway for its role in disease development as well as nutrients that can inhibit NF-kB inflammation. At the onset of this outbreak, I have been counseling our patients on immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory protocols. We were not only seeking to support NF-kB but all the pro-inflammatory pathways. I hosted webinars with detailed information about the role of inflammation in disease development and lessons from previous SARS virus and inflammatory pathways. Because there are several studies already supporting the use of specific vitamins, minerals, polyphenols and compounds as inhibitory aid for NF-kB inflammation, I hypothesize that these nutritives may aid immune responses and offer non-infected persons with more support against COVID infection.
For other NF-kB induced inflammatory conditions, current natural inhibitors include curcumin, omega fatty acids, lipoic acid, n-acetyl-cysteine, glutathione, mixed tocopherols vitamin E, resveratrol, vitamin D3, epigallocatechin gallate, cynidin-3 glucoside (found in dark fruits and berries), frankincense, and myrrh. We also recommend enjoying polyphenols rich diet and that means copious servings of varied plant foods as anti-inflammatory aids. Polyphenols have strong positive influence on several inflammatory-related diseases and they may hypothetically aid in the fight against COVID.