immunity Archives - MyMedicPlus

Can Supplements Boost Your Immunity This Winter?

mymedicplus — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 10:12:42 +0000

Source – https://www.webmd.com/

Nov. 17, 2020 — With COVID-19 cases on the rise and cold and flu season well underway, people are seeking ways to boost their disease defenses. Sales of immune health supplements are projected to grow from $16 billion in 2019 to $29 billion by 2027, spurred in part by the pandemic, according to research from Fortune Business Insights.

But could a supplement give you an extra edge against illness?

“There’s no magic bullet to bolster the immune system,” says Barry Fox, MD, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Experts say that a good diet, plenty of sleep, and regular exercise will get you started in the right direction, along with practices like meditation or yoga for stress relief.

But some supplements may have some infection-fighting benefits. “If people are taking vitamin C or D or another supplement and not having any side effects, it may be of help,” Fox says.

Keep in mind that supplements are an unregulated industry. That means that even if a vitamin or botanical has shown promise, the bottle you buy might contain too little or too much of the desired substance. For most supplements, research is limited at best. Plus, research suggests it’s better to get your vitamins from foods rather than

supplements.

That said, here’s what to know about popular vitamins and botanicals often advertised as immune boosters:

Vitamin C

Long touted as a cold cure, vitamin C doesn’t appear to prevent respiratory illnesses. But it may help shorten colds, according to a review of studies in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. When study participants took 1 gram of vitamin C every day (not just when illness struck), colds that did occur were 8% shorter in length in adults and 14% shorter in children, says Harri Hemilä, MD, PhD, an adjunct professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Helsinki in Finland.

Could vitamin C work against COVID? There’s no evidence yet that it will help. But Hemilä says there’s little harm in giving it a try. Be careful to avoid overdoing, it though. Large doses of vitamin C above 500 milligrams daily can cause digestive upset and may increase the risk for cataracts and the risk of kidney stones in some people.

Vitamin D

Among vitamins that may help ward off illness, vitamin D is a sure bet. A Cochrane review showed that the “sunshine vitamin” cut the number of colds people caught if they took it every day or at least every week. And the incidence of colds was slashed in half among people who started out deficient in the vitamin, according to the study.

Recent research shows that people with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to have a severe case of COVID-19. But so far, no one has studied whether a supplement can help, although research is underway. Excess doses — taking more than 60,000 international units a day for several months — can be toxic. This causes calcium to build up in your blood, leading to nausea, vomiting, weakness, bone pain, and kidney problems.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E shows particular promise for improving immune function in seniors. A large study of nursing home residents in TheJournal of the American Medical Association found it could make a big difference in staying healthy this winter. “We showed that supplementation with 200 IU/day of vitamin E for a year resulted in significant reduction in respiratory infection –particularly upper respiratory infections, including common colds,” says Simin Nikbin Meydani, DVM, PhD, a senior scientist and director of the Nutritional Immunology Lab at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.

Echinacea

This popular cold remedy has a mixed record. But the variation between studies could be due to the dose, the part of this flower used to make the supplement, and even the time of year it was grown, research suggests.

A study shows that echinacea is somewhat effective at preventing colds if taken three times a day during the cold season as a preventive measure and five times a day when you’re actually battling a cold. Using an extract of echinacea in drop form lowered the incidence of colds by 26% and also cut how long the colds lasted. And those taking it used less pain medication when they had colds.

But a newer study did not find it prevented the common cold or cut short how long a cold lasted.

Zinc

There isn’t good data to show that zinc prevents colds. “However, there are half a dozen randomized trials that found that zinc lozenges can shorten the duration of colds when started after the onset of symptoms,” Hemilä says.

Recovering from a cold was three times higher and colds were shortened by 30%-40% among people taking high-dose zinc lozenges, according to data in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. You need 80-100 milligrams of the supplement daily to get the effect. Zinc gluconate and zinc acetate are equally effective.

One study showed that zinc reduced the risk of pneumonia in older people. People who are older may be deficient in the mineral. Possible side effects include a bad taste in your mouth, loss of smell if used as a spray, indigestion, diarrhea, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Probiotics

The evidence is mixed for taking probiotics to prevent respiratory infections. A review of 33 studies found that while most research found some benefit, it needed further study. One study found that probiotics might help you cut respiratory infections short, compared to not taking the supplement.

When choosing a product, lead study author Tracey J. Smith, PhD, recommends looking for the strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis lactis. These probiotic microorganisms seem to reduce symptoms by muting the body’s inflammatory response, she says. (But if you have a serious chronic disease, check with a doctor first.)

Glutathione

The antioxidant glutathione, which is produced naturally by the body, boosted an important measure of immunity when given to people as a supplement in one study. These included increases in lymphocytes — white blood cells that are a major part of the immune system, including a subset of lymphocytes known as natural killer cells, says study author John P. Richie Jr., PhD, a professor of public health sciences and pharmacology at Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey, PA. But the study was small — only 12 people — and more studies are needed to show that glutathione actually prevents or reduces illness.

Elderberry extract

A folk medicine favorite, elderberry extract was shown to shorten the flu in one study. People with the flu who got the syrup four times a day for 5 days saw their symptoms improve 4 days earlier that those who got a placebo. The dose was 15 milliliters — about 3 teaspoons.

But in a new study, in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, people who came to the emergency room with the flu had no better outcome when given elderberry syrup than those who got a placebo. More research is needed to see if it really makes a difference.

Elderberry has been suggested as a treatment for COVID-19, but no research has investigated how well it works. There is also some concern that this home remedy could increase the risk of a “cytokine storm,” according to one report. This overreaction by the body to the coronavirus can damage the lungs and other organs, research suggests.

Golden root extract

This supplement comes from the rhodiola plant. One strain of the species — R. rosea — was found to increase the percentage of memory T cells and B cells, important parts of the immune system, in a study of 15 men. But whether that gives protection from seasonal colds and the flu — or any other infection — remains to be seen.

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Guava Health Benefits: Control Blood Pressure, Boost Immunity And Much More With This Winter Fruit

mymedicplus — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 06:04:16 +0000

Source – https://doctor.ndtv.com/

Guava Fruit Benefits: Guava contains properties beneficial for your overall health in several ways. This winter, enjoy this fruit and enjoy the many benefits. Read here to know some of these.

HIGHLIGHTS

Guava is loaded with vitamin C which can help boost immunity
Eating guava can help you lose weight as it is loaded with fibre
Guava leaves are also loaded with several medicinal properties

Winter season is almost here. With the temperature falling, it is important to maintain a healthy diet. Eating healthy according to the season can help you stay fit. Every season offers different fruits and vegetables. Eating seasonal fruits can offer your essential nutrients and help you stay fit. Guava is one of the fruits that are commonly available during the winter season. This fruit is loaded with several health benefits. Guava is also beneficial in several chronic health conditions. Not just the fruit, guava leaves are also loaded with certain health benefits. Here are some reasons why you should not miss the goodness of guava this winter season.

Guava health benefits you need to know

Both guava and guava leaves can help you manage blood sugar levels. According to studies, guava leaves can help reduce blood sugar levels. This fruit is loaded with fibre which helps in diabetes management. If you are a diabetic, you can consult your doctor to understand how much guava is safe to consume.

2. May lower blood pressure

High blood pressure can put you at a higher risk of heart disease. The presence of potassium and fibre in guava reduces blood pressure numbers. Choose a healthy diet and lifestyle to maintain healthy blood pressure numbers.

Also read: What Happens To Your Blood Pressure During Sleep? Expert Explains The Reasons Behind Fluctuations

3. Aids in weight loss and digestion

Guavas are loaded with fibre. High fibre content promotes digestion and bowel movements. It can help reduce constipation. Foods high in fibre keep you full for longer and make you consume fewer calories contributing to weight loss.

4. Boosts immunity

Vitamin C plays a significant role in boosting immunity. Guava contains a good amount of vitamin C which ensures healthy functioning of the immune system. This winter you can control the risk of various ailments with this wonder fruit.

Also read: Guava Health Benefits: Here’s Why Health Experts Are Talking About Vitamin C-Rich Amrud

5. Beneficial for skin

Guava contains antioxidants that can protect your skin against ageing. Vitamin C also plays a role in maintaining and boosting overall skin health.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Safety and immunogenicity of two heterologous HIV vaccine regimens in healthy, HIV-uninfected adults (TRAVERSE): a randomised, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 1/2a study.

mymedicplus — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 09:44:25 +0000

Source – https://www.physiciansweekly.com/

Bioinformatically designed mosaic antigens increase the breadth of HIV vaccine-elicited immunity. This study compared the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a newly developed, tetravalent Ad26 vaccine with the previously tested trivalent formulation.
This randomised, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 1/2a study (TRAVERSE) was done at 11 centres in the USA and one centre in Rwanda. Eligible participants were adults aged 18 to 50 years, who were HIV-uninfected, healthy at screening based on their medical history and a physical examination including laboratory assessment and vital sign measurements, and at low risk of HIV infection in the opinion of study staff, who applied a uniform definition of low-risk guidelines that was aligned across sites. Enrolled participants were randomly assigned at a 2:1 ratio to tetravalent and trivalent groups. Participants in tetravalent and trivalent groups were then further randomly assigned at a 5:1 ratio to adenovirus 26 (Ad26)-vectored vaccine and placebo subgroups. Randomisation was stratified by region (USA and Rwanda) and based on a computer-generated schedule using randomly permuted blocks prepared under the sponsor’s supervision. We masked participants and investigators to treatment allocation throughout the study. On day 0, participants received a first injection of tetravalent vaccine (Ad26.Mos4.HIV or placebo) or trivalent vaccine (Ad26.Mos.HIV or placebo), and those injections were repeated 12 weeks later. At week 24, vaccine groups received a third dose of tetravalent or trivalent together with clade C gp140, and this was repeated at week 48, with placebos again administered to the placebo group. All study vaccines and placebo were administered by intramuscular injection in the deltoid muscle. We assessed adverse events in all participants who received at least one study injection (full analysis set) and Env-specific binding antibodies in all participants who received at least the first three vaccinations according to the protocol-specified vaccination schedule, had at least one measured post-dose blood sample collected, and were not diagnosed with HIV during the study (per-protocol set). This study is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02788045.
Of 201 participants who were enrolled and randomly assigned, 198 received the first vaccination: 110 were in the tetravalent group, 55 in the trivalent group, and 33 in the placebo group. Overall, 185 (93%) completed two scheduled vaccinations per protocol, 180 (91%) completed three, and 164 (83%) completed four. Solicited, self-limiting local, systemic reactogenicity and unsolicited adverse events were similar in vaccine groups and higher than in placebo groups. All participants in the per-protocol set developed clade C Env binding antibodies after the second vaccination, with higher total IgG titres after the tetravalent vaccine than after the trivalent vaccine (10 413 EU/mL, 95% CI 7284-14 886 in the tetravalent group compared with 5494 EU/mL, 3759-8029 in the trivalent group). Titres further increased after the third and fourth vaccinations, persisting at least through week 72. Other immune responses were also higher with the tetravalent vaccine, including the magnitude and breadth of binding antibodies against a cross-clade panel of Env antigens, and the magnitude of IFNγ ELISPOT responses (median 521 SFU/10 peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs] in the tetravalent group and median 282 SFU/10 PBMCs in the trivalent group after the fourth vaccination) and Env-specific CD4+ T-cell response rates after the third and fourth vaccinations. No interference by pre-existing Ad26 immunity was identified.
The tetravalent vaccine regimen was generally safe, well-tolerated, and found to elicit higher immune responses than the trivalent regimen. Regimens that use this tetravalent vaccine component are being advanced into field trials to assess efficacy against HIV-1 infection.
National Institutes of Health, Henry M Jackson Foundation for Advancement of Military Medicine and the US Department of Defense, Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, & Harvard, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Janssen Vaccines & Prevention.

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