COVID-19 UPDATE
The current global state of health, the threat of the SARS-2-COVID-19 virus, is a concern to many.
The best way to deal with this situation is to avoid getting very sick, avoid exposure as much as possible, and prepare the body to fight the virus in the best way possible because everybody will get exposed eventually in one way or another. For those people who choose not to get vaccinated, this becomes even more important and urgent.
The medical and epidemiological community is trying to find correlations and strategies on how to reduce serious manifestations and death in COVID-19 patients, including activating natural biological pathways(1).
On this page, we will highlight the roles of the glutathione and carnosine pathways in the literature about COVID-19.
We believe taking action is your best defense.
Glutathione quotes:
- … glutathione deficiency is the most plausible explanation for serious manifestation and death in COVID-19 patients was proposed on the basis of an exhaustive literature analysis and observations.(2)
- … the ability of glutathione (GSH) to inhibit viral replication and decrease levels of IL-6 in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) patients, as well as beneficial effects of GSH on other pulmonary diseases processes, we believe the use of GSH could be beneficial in COVID-19 patients.(3)
- … evidence from literature that demonstrates the reduced levels of GSH in the main conditions clinically associated with severe disease, we highlight the relevance of restoring GSH levels in the attempt to protect the most vulnerable subjects from severe symptoms of COVID-19.(4)
- … carnosine has promising inhibitory interactions with host ACE2 and nCoV spike protein and hence could offer a potential mitigating effect against the current COVID-19 pandemic.(5)
- … carnosine could protect against some of the detrimental effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.(6)
- … carnosine is an effective anti-inflammatory agent which can also inhibit CD26 and ACE2 activity.(7)
References:
1. Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH et al., Pathophysiological Basis and Rationale for Early Outpatient Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection, The American Journal of Medicine, Vol 134, No 1, January 2021
2. Endogenous Deficiency of Glutathione as the Most Likely Cause of Serious Manifestations and Death in COVID-19 Patients, Alexey Polonikov, ACS Infect. Dis. 2020, 6, 7, 1558–1562
3. Glutathione Supplementation as an Adjunctive Therapy in COVID-19, Vika Guloyan et al., Antioxidants 2020, 9, 914
4. The Role of Glutathione in Protecting against the Severe Inflammatory Response Triggered by COVID-19, Francesca Silvagno et al., Antioxidants 2020, 9, 624
5. Carnosine to Combat Novel Coronavirus (nCoV): Molecular Docking and Modeling to Cocrystallized Host Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Viral Spike Protein, Loai M. Saadah et al., Molecules 2020, 25, 5605
6. Nutritional Interventions for COVID-19: A Role for Carnosine? Jack Feehan et al., Nutrients 2021, 13, 1463
7. COVID-19 and Senotherapeutics: Any Role for the Naturally-occurring Dipeptide Carnosine? Alan R. Hipkiss, Aging and Disease • Volume 11, Number 4, August 2020
Navigate this page:
The role of glutathione in COVID-19, click here.
The role of carnosine in COVID-19, click here.
Links to Real-Time Analysis of Latest (including experimental) COVID treatment studies, click here.
THE ROLE OF GLUTATHIONE IN COVID-19
Endogenous Deficiency of Glutathione as the Most Likely Cause of Serious Manifestations and Death in COVID-19 Patients, Alexey Polonikov, ACS Infect. Dis. 2020, 6, 7, 1558–1562; Publication Date: May 28, 2020
Abstract
Higher rates of serious illness and death from coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection among older people and those who have comorbidities suggest that age- and disease-related biological processes make such individuals more sensitive to environmental stress factors including infectious agents like coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Specifically, impaired redox homeostasis and associated oxidative stress appear to be important biological processes that may account for increased individual susceptibility to diverse environmental insults. The aim of this Viewpoint is to justify (1) the crucial roles of glutathione in determining individual responsiveness to COVID-19 infection and disease pathogenesis and (2) the feasibility of using glutathione as a means for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 illness. The hypothesis that glutathione deficiency is the most plausible explanation for serious manifestation and death in COVID-19 patients was proposed on the basis of an exhaustive literature analysis and observations. The hypothesis unravels the mysteries of epidemiological data on the risk factors determining serious manifestations of COVID-19 infection and the high risk of death and opens real opportunities for effective treatment and prevention of the disease.
Glutathione Supplementation as an Adjunctive Therapy in COVID-19, Vika Guloyan et al., Antioxidants 2020, 9, 914; doi:10.3390/antiox9100914; Received: 4 August 2020; Accepted: 20 September 2020; Published: 25 September 2020
Abstract
Morbidity and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are due in large part to severe cytokine storm and hypercoagulable state brought on by dysregulated host-inflammatory immune response, ultimately leading to multi-organ failure. Exacerbated oxidative stress caused by increased levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) along with decreased levels of interferon α and interferon β (IFN-α, IFN-β) are mainly believed to drive the disease process. Based on the evidence attesting to the ability of glutathione (GSH) to inhibit viral replication and decrease levels of IL-6 in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) patients, as well as beneficial effects of GSH on other pulmonary diseases processes, we believe the use of liposomal GSH could be beneficial in COVID-19 patients. This review discusses the epidemiology, transmission, and clinical presentation of COVID-19 with a focus on its pathogenesis and the possible use of liposomal GSH as an adjunctive treatment to the current treatment modalities in COVID-19 patients.
The Role of Glutathione in Protecting against the Severe Inflammatory Response Triggered by COVID-19, Francesca Silvagno et al., Antioxidants 2020, 9, 624; doi:10.3390/antiox9070624; Received: 27 June 2020; Accepted: 14 July 2020; Published: 16 July 2020
Abstract
The novel COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the world’s population differently: mostly in the presence of conditions such as aging, diabetes and hypertension the virus triggers a lethal cytokine storm and patients die from acute respiratory distress syndrome, whereas in many cases the disease has a mild or even asymptomatic progression. A common denominator in all conditions associated with COVID-19 appears to be the impaired redox homeostasis responsible for reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation; therefore, levels of glutathione (GSH), the key anti-oxidant guardian in all tissues, could be critical in extinguishing the exacerbated inflammation that triggers organ failure in COVID-19. The present review provides a biochemical investigation of the mechanisms leading to deadly inflammation in severe COVID-19, counterbalanced by GSH. The pathways competing for GSH are described to illustrate the events concurring to cause a depletion of endogenous GSH stocks. Drawing on evidence from literature that demonstrates the reduced levels of GSH in the main conditions clinically associated with severe disease, we highlight the relevance of restoring GSH levels in the attempt to protect the most vulnerable subjects from severe symptoms of COVID-19. Finally, we discuss the current data about the feasibility of increasing GSH levels, which could be used to prevent and subdue the disease.
THE ROLE OF CARNOSINE IN COVID-19
Carnosine to Combat Novel Coronavirus (nCoV): Molecular Docking and Modeling to Cocrystallized Host Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Viral Spike Protein, Loai M. Saadah et al., Molecules 2020, 25, 5605; Received: 22 October 2020; Accepted: 27 November 2020; Published: 28 November 2020
Abstract
Aims: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) plays an important role in the entry of coronaviruses into host cells. The current paper described how carnosine, a naturally occurring supplement, can be an effective drug candidate for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the basis of molecular docking and modeling to host ACE2 cocrystallized with nCoV spike protein.
Methods: First, the starting point was ACE2 inhibitors and their structure–activity relationship (SAR). Next, chemical similarity (or diversity) and PubMed searches made it possible to repurpose and assess approved or experimental drugs for COVID-19. Parallel, at all stages, the authors performed bioactivity scoring to assess potential repurposed inhibitors at ACE2. Finally, investigators performed molecular docking and modeling of the identified drug candidate to host ACE2 with nCoV spike protein.
Results: Carnosine emerged as the best-known drug candidate to match ACE2 inhibitor structure. Preliminary docking was more optimal to ACE2 than the known typical angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) inhibitor (enalapril) and quite comparable to known or presumed ACE2 inhibitors. Viral spike protein elements binding to ACE2 were retained in the best carnosine pose in SwissDock at 1.75 Angstroms. Out of the three main areas of attachment expected to the protein–protein structure, carnosine bound with higher affinity to two compared to the known ACE2 active site. LibDock score was 92.40 for site 3, 90.88 for site 1, and inside the active site 85.49.
Conclusion: Carnosine has promising inhibitory interactions with host ACE2 and nCoV spike protein and hence could offer a potential mitigating effect against the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Nutritional Interventions for COVID-19: A Role for Carnosine? Jack Feehan et al., Nutrients 2021, 13, 1463; Received: 17 March 2021; Accepted: 12 April 2021; Published: 26 April 2021
Abstract
As COVID-19 continues to take an enormous toll on global health, the effort to find effective preventive and treatment strategies has been unparalleled in recent history [1]. While the rapid rollout of vaccines is heartening, limited supply, logistical hurdles, enormous demand, and the rise of new variants of the virus will make population-scale vaccination a challenging target to meet, particularly in lower socioeconomic areas of the world.
While some nutrients have garnered widespread attention for their potential use in preventing or managing COVID-19, such as vitamins B, C, and D, there are many others with powerful health-promoting effects that may have clinical utility.
Carnosine could protect against some of the detrimental effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
COVID-19 and Senotherapeutics: Any Role for the Naturally-occurring Dipeptide Carnosine? Alan R. Hipkiss, Aging and Disease • Volume 11, Number 4, August 2020; Received May 15, 2020; Revised May 17, 2020; Accepted May 18, 2020
Abstract
It is suggested that the non-toxic dipeptide carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) should be examined as a potential protective agent against COVID-19 infection and inflammatory consequences especially in the elderly. Carnosine is an effective anti-inflammatory agent which can also inhibit CD26 and ACE2 activity. It is also suggested that nasal administration would direct the peptide directly to the lungs and escape the attention of serum carnosinase.
STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE COVID-19 EARLY TREATMENT: REAL-TIME ANALYSIS OF THE LATEST MEDICAL STUDIES
Follow the analysis of all COVID-19 early treatments and databases of potential treatments. Currently, over 70 countries have approved early treatments.
Treatments do not replace vaccines and other measures. All practical, effective, and safe means should be used. Elimination is a race against viral evolution. No treatment, vaccine, or intervention is 100% available and effective for all variants. Denying efficacy increases the risk of COVID-19 becoming endemic; and increases mortality, morbidity, and collateral damage.
For databases with potential treatments, click here.
For approved early treatments by country, click here.
