Post-Covid Symptoms and the Role of IV Vitamin Infusions
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an almost inevitable situation all over the world. Coronavirus has infected 440,807,756 people globally up until March 2022[1]. Usually, COVID-19 symptoms go away within a few days or weeks. However, certain symptoms may persist for longer; such conditions are called post-Covid syndrome or long-Covid. Clinical trials suggest that IV drip and infusions containing vitamins have effectively helped improve post-Covid symptoms[2].
Vitamins play a crucial role in the body irrespective of illness. However, vitamins can play an especially supportive role during an infection or disease by speeding up the recovery process. Hence, IV drips containing essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids have multiple benefits, especially in post-Covid chronic symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, muscle pain, and inflammation.
POST-COVID SYMPTOMS:
About 20.7% of long-term Covid symptoms were abnormal lung functions, about 24.1% were olfactory dysfunctions and neurological signs, and 55.17% were generalized systemic signs of pain, inflammation, and fatigue[3].
Although the symptoms may vary from one person to the next, the following long-term symptoms are common after contracting COVID-19:
• Brain Fog: Being unable to concentrate and having memory issues.
• Musculoskeletal Pain: Generalized body pain and aching joints.
• Fatigue: Feeling tired or restless, and having low energy.
• Inflammation: Aching, joint pain, redness or sensitivity due to infection.
• Depression: Anxiety and depression following COVID-19.
• Insomnia: Persistent problems falling or staying asleep.
• Chest Pain: Chest pain and long-term shortness of breath.
• Rashes: Red, itchy, and painful swollen areas on the skin.
• Cardiovascular Effects: Heart palpitations and carditis.
ROLE OF DIFFERENT VITAMINS IN POST-COVID SYMPTOMS:
Vitamins like B, C, and D have proven to be effective in maintaining the body's physiological functions. Vitamins have multiple benefits, including antioxidative and immunomodulatory functions, as well as enhancing natural barriers, and local paracrine signaling pathway properties. In addition, evidence suggests that the use of Vitamin C, A, D, Thiamine, and Glutathione have shown excellent improvement results when given to long-Covid patients[4].
Vitamin C:
IV infusions of Vitamin C effectively lessen the fatigue associated with COVID-19, and decrease the chances of chronic respiratory infections. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that works as the co-factor in many biosynthetic reactions in the body, and has immune-boosting, healing, and antibody-boosting properties[5]. IV infusions of Vitamin C have played a crucial role in minimizing inflammatory reactions, pain, and fatigue. Vitamin C also blocks a cascade of unwanted inflammatory reactions through its anti-oxidative nature and enhanced immunoregulatory properties.
IV drips with Vitamin C can attain an optimal level of Vitamin C in the bloodstream, whereas oral supplements of Vitamin C cannot achieve this optimal concentration. Therefore, Vitamin C is an excellent option to supplement as an IV infusion, to avoid the severity before or post-Covid[6].
Vitamin B12:
Vitamin B12 has a natural role in the gut microbiome controlling the immune response[7]. It also plays a crucial role in RBC development and nervous system maintenance. Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D effectively maintain a natural gut environment that decreases oxygen support during and post-Covid. Clinical trials suggest that a combination of Vitamin B12, Magnesium, and Vitamin D significantly decreased oxygen supplementation by effectively maintaining internal oxygenation[8].
Vitamin D:
Vitamin D is responsible for maintaining calcium and phosphorous levels in the body. It also plays a role in cancerous cell growth inhibition, reducing inflammation, and controlling infections in the body. Vitamin D can help to avoid severe respiratory infections post-Covid and aids in speeding up the recovery from pneumonia. An optimal level of 95-120 nmol/L of Vitamin D in the blood circulation can help avoid chronic respiratory infections post-Covid[9].
Glutathione (GSH):
Apart from vitamins, Glutathione is the “master antioxidant” that combats free radicals in the body. Post-Covid inflammatory reactions may arise, but Glutathione can effectively destroy these radicals. An IV drip of Glutathione can effectively boost the immune system, and lessen the occurrence of a cascade of inflammatory reactions in the body after contracting COVID-19[10].
WHY ARE VITAMIN INFUSIONS ESSENTIAL IN POST-COVID SYMPTOMS?
In all viral infections, including the Coronavirus, the patient's natural immunity becomes compromised. Therefore, leaving the patient prone to certain secondary bacterial infections and degenerative changes in the body may worsen the condition. Hence, IV hydration containing essential vitamins can be quite useful in avoiding the harmful effects of the infection.
Research reveals that people who had lower levels of Vitamin D were more severely affected by COVID-19, and experienced more severe post-Covid symptoms than those who had higher levels of Vitamin D in the bloodstream[11].
Many other studies show that taking Vitamins B12, C, D, and Glutathione during or after COVID-19 has shown faster recovery from the virus, and provides less chances of developing long-Covid syndrome[12].
WHY ARE IV VITAMIN INFUSIONS MORE EFFECTIVE COMPARED TO ORAL SUPPLEMENTS?
Vitamins affect and control almost every function in the body, either directly or indirectly. However, an optimal concentration in the blood is required for multiple physiological functions. Many oral supplements of vitamins, minerals, and Glutathione that are available in the market claim to be sufficient for the body's requirements. In reality, most oral supplements cannot acquire the required level of specific vitamins in the blood.
IV infusions of these vitamins are effective because they go directly to the bloodstream, in contrast to the oral supplementation which is absorbed slowly from the intestines, and then delivered to the bloodstream. IV drips containing essential vitamins are undoubtedly one of the best supportive therapies to relieve the post-Covid side effects, including brain fog, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and inflammation.
Research reveals that IV hydration, including vitamins and supplements like Glutathione (GSH), is more effective when used via IV infusion than orally.
Click here to view available IV Infusions.
REFERENCES:
1. WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard | WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data. Accessed March 5, 2022. https://covid19.who.int/
2. Srivastava A, Gupta RC, Doss RB, Lall R. Trace Minerals, Vitamins and Nutraceuticals in Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19. J Diet Suppl. Published online March 6, 2021:1-35. doi:10.1080/19390211.2021.1890662
3. Salamanna F, Veronesi F, Martini L, Landini MP, Fini M. Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: The Persistent Symptoms at the Post-viral Stage of the Disease. A Systematic Review of the Current Data. Front Med. 2021;8. doi:10.3389/FMED.2021.653516
4. Marchenkova LA, Makarova E V., Yurova O V. [The role of micronutrients in the comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19]. Vopr Pitan. 2021;90(2):40-49. doi:10.33029/0042-8833-2021-90-2-40-49
5. Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017;9(11). doi:10.3390/NU9111211
6. Cheng RZ. Can early and high intravenous dose of vitamin C prevent and treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Med drug Discov. 2020;5:100028. doi:10.1016/J.MEDIDD.2020.100028
7. Degnan PH, Taga ME, Goodman AL. Vitamin B12 as a modulator of gut microbial ecology. Cell Metab. 2014;20(5):769-778. doi:10.1016/J.CMET.2014.10.002
8. Wen Tan C, Pock Ho L, Kalimuddin S, et al. A cohort study to evaluate the effect of combination Vitamin D, Magnesium and Vitamin B12 (DMB) on progression to severe outcome in older COVID-19 patients. medRxiv. Published online June 10, 2020:2020.06.01.20112334. doi:10.1101/2020.06.01.20112334
9. Ali N. Role of vitamin D in preventing of COVID-19 infection, progression and severity. J Infect Public Health. 2020;13(10):1373-1380. doi:10.1016/J.JIPH.2020.06.021
10. Silvagno F, Vernone A, Pescarmona GP. The Role of Glutathione in Protecting against the Severe Inflammatory Response Triggered by COVID-19. Antioxidants. 2020;9(7):1-16. doi:10.3390/ANTIOX9070624
11. Merzon E, Tworowski D, Gorohovski A, et al. Low plasma 25(OH) vitamin D level is associated with increased risk of COVID-19 infection: an Israeli population-based study. FEBS J. 2020;287(17):3693-3702. doi:10.1111/FEBS.15495
12. Liu F, Zhu Y, Zhang J, Li Y, Peng Z. Intravenous high-dose vitamin C for the treatment of severe COVID-19: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2020;10(7). doi:10.1136/BMJOPEN-2020-039519
