Brits are flocking to buy vitamin C supplements in a desperate bid to protect themselves from the coronavirus.
Companies selling the supplements say they’ve seen soaring demand for the vitamins, which have long been touted as an immune system booster.
Healthspan, based in the UK, revealed its sales had tripled in the past week alone, while high street retailer Superdrug has seen a ‘significant rise’ in sales.
Social media has been flooded with posts encouraging others to take vitamin C, sometimes exceeding recommended amounts at dangerous levels.
Doctors in New York and China are trialling the effects of extremely high doses of the vitamin but the amounts produced in supplements cannot treat any illness.
People should not take large amounts of vitamin C because it can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, cramps and headache.
Supplement suppliers say they’ve seen a spike in demand of vitamin C sales after claims the nutrient can treat coronavirus (stock image)
Vitamin C is a naturally occurring nutrient which helps the body to grow properly and maintain good health.
Most people get enough of it from their diet – it comes in foods including oranges, red peppers and broccoli, for example – but it is a popular supplement because of its reputation as an immune system booster.
It does have a role in the immune system, but a balanced diet containing a wide range of vitamins is essential for the body to fight off infections.
As the COVID-19 disease develops across the UK, people are increasingly looking for ways to protect themselves.
Superdrug said in a statement: ‘We’ve seen a significant sales increase for immune defence vitamins, which include Vitamin C.
‘We do currently have vitamins in stock however we are continually monitoring availability and are working closely with suppliers to do our best to meet current demand.’
Rob Hobson, Healthspan’s head of nutrition said: ‘Over the last week we have seen sales of vitamin C products triple.’
The news that Chinese doctors are conducting a trial of vitamin C in the fight against coronavirus is likely to have driven sales.
Scientists at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, in the city where coronavirus first emerged, are testing its effects on 120 patients who have the virus.
They will be given daily infusions of 24g of vitamin C for seven days – a dose which is around 60 times that recommended by the NHS.
The NHS recommends healthy adults consume 40mg of the vitamin daily, while the National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends 75mg for women and 90mg for men.
The study is expected to be completed at the end of September, according to information on the US National Library of Medicine’s website, so the results have not yet been published.
The regime prompted doctors in New York state to give vitamin C a try on their own critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Dr Andrew Weber, a Long Island based pulmonologist and critical-care specialist with Northwell Health, shared that he has been immediately giving his intensive-care patients 1,500 milligrams of intravenous vitamin C – again, far higher than the recommended amount.
Those patients are then re-administered the doses of the powerful antioxidant three or four times a day, the doctor explained to the New York Post.
‘The patients who received vitamin C did significantly better than those who did not get vitamin C,’ Dr Weber said.
‘It helps a tremendous amount, but it is not highlighted because it’s not a sexy drug.’
Jason Molinet, a spokesman for Northwell, said that Vitamin C is being ‘widely used’ as a coronavirus treatment throughout the NY health system.
Doctors’ encouraging comments left social media users hailing supplements as a prevention tool against the coronavirus.
One user said he had been taking 3,000 to 4,000mg every day for two weeks, far higher than the 2,000mg limit set by the NIH.
Taking too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps.
Dr Mike Skinner, a virologist at Imperial College London, says that despite ongoing research, we won’t know vitamin C’s value against the novel coronavirus for some time – either to prevent or treat it.
What’s more, the dose being tested is ‘massive’ and far greater than what would be consumed at a normal level.
Social media has been flooded with posts encouraging others to take vitamin C, sometimes exceeding recommended amounts (pictured)
The British Dietetic Society busted the myth that supplements will be able to prevent you catching coronavirus – but many have rushed to buy it
The British Dietetic Society busted the myth that supplements will be able to prevent you catching coronavirus.
It says: ‘Simply put, you cannot “boost” your immune system through diet, and no specific food or supplement will prevent you catching COVID-19/Coronavirus.’
But as the coronavirus pandemic rages on, Healthspan’s Rob Hobson said interest in vitamins have increased across the board.
‘Sales of vitamin D have risen two fold over the last two weeks and are continuing to rise as are the Healthspan Multivitality 70 plus multivitamins – which may be the result of our most vulnerable groups looking for ways to optimise their health during lock-down,’ he said.
‘Diet should always come first but supplements do have a role to play when this is compromised in any way.’
Mr Hobson believes Vitamin D sales have risen because the public are being urged to stay indoors. The nutrient is boosted with exposure to sunshine.
Pharma Nord, which manufactures and supplies pharmaceutical quality dietary supplements, said the company is trying to cope with a sharp rise in demand and enquiries.
Bent Henriksen, managing director of Pharma Nord UK, said: ‘We know from talking to pharmacies and health food stores that they are dealing with a huge wave of enquiries about these kind of product.
‘Our telephone and technical support teams have been kept extremely busy answering questions from concerned customers.
‘We can see that it is tough out there for a lot of people so we are trying to do our best to play our part in helping people through this.
‘Our team has been working exceptionally hard to ensure that supplies of our products get to where they are needed.’
It follows supermarkets and pharmacies being wiped of over-the-counter medications amid the coronavirus crisis.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
According to Chinese data, one in five patients with COVID-19 may be ill enough to need medical intervention. For the rest wild symptoms, the best medication could be ibuprofen and paracetamol, as this controls fever and pain.
In order to help rebuild the immune system post-virus, experts recommend antioxidants which can be obtained from a variety of foods, such as berries, garlic and onion.
Vitamin Injections London founder Bianca Estelle has recommended cocktails of vitamins and minerals, intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) injection, as an alternative to oral supplements which can be harmful to the stomach in high doses.
The UK-based clinic administers high doses (dependent on factors including age and health condition. The antiviral concoctions are also great for preventing free radical damage and reducing inflammation caused by viruses.
According to Chinese data, one in five patients with COVID-19 may be ill enough to need medical intervention. File image
B VITAMINS
B Complex vitamins also help boost the immune system after a viral infection.
‘Specifically B6,’ Estelle says. ‘It gives cells the energy they require to communicate effectively and function.’ B6 supports red blood cell production and reduces inflammation. It cannot be made by the body naturally.
VITAMIN C
Coronavirus victims have reported symptoms of fatigue, body aches, fever, coughing and sneezing.
Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant that protects the body against the effects of harmful agents (internal and external) and can negatively affect metabolic processes, leading to tiredness and fatigue.
Chinese studies have been treating some infected people with high doses of vitamin C due to its anti-viral properties.
Since it has a very low toxicity level, there is no risk of damaging vital organs, as long as the correct dose is administered for an individual as recommended by a health expert.
VITAMIN D
According to a WHO study on respiratory tract infections, ‘Vitamin D deficiency may affect the immune system as vitamin D plays an immunomodulation role, enhancing innate immunity by up-regulating the expression and secretion of antimicrobial peptides, which boosts mucosal defenses’. Magnesium is also found in vegetables, milk and fish (pictured)
According to a World Health Organization study on respiratory tract infections, ‘Vitamin D deficiency may affect the immune system as vitamin D plays an immunomodulation role, enhancing innate immunity by up-regulating the expression and secretion of antimicrobial peptides, which boosts mucosal defenses’.
Airborne illnesses such as coronavirus can get into the system via mucous membranes; eyes, nose and mouth.
Estelle hails the antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of D3, otherwise known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’. Darker skin tones have more difficulty obtaining the benefits of vitamin D but slow-release adhesive skin patches provide 12 hours of continuous D3 supplementation, delivered directly into the bloodstream.
‘The Vitamin D Shot is a safe treatment,’ VitaminInjections.co.uk states. ‘Rarely, however, Vitamin D injections can lead to a number of side effects – the most common of which are stomach discomfort and nausea.’
Darker skin tones have more difficulty obtaining the benefits of vitamin D but slow-release adhesive skin patches provide 12 hours of continuous D3 supplementation
MAGNESIUM
Magnesium helps reduce inflammation in tissues and regulates the immune system response. Notably it helps keep organs, bones and nerves healthy.
Found in vegetables, milk, fish, pulses, and grains, about 15 percent is absorbed via oral supplement and it’s absorbed at a much higher rate via IV.
ZINC
Zinc helps flush out damaged cells and fight infection.
According to VitaminInjections.co.uk, the trace mineral, stimulates the activities of nearly one hundred enzymes and is necessary for the healthy functioning of the body. Individuals lacking in this nutrient may be more susceptible to illness, meaning that an adequate amount of Zinc should ideally be present in the body’s cells.
Zinc is recommended for supplementing pre-existing deficiencies in order to enhance the body’s natural ability to defend itself against foreign invaders.