COVID-19 has shocked and devastated the world, causing fear and death beyond anything we have experienced in our lifetime. For those of us in the field of health and wellness, we must attempt to help those in need, in whatever manner we can.

Many experts in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries believe we can eventually defeat this virus with a vaccine. However, until a safe and effective candidate emerges and becomes available, we must apply basic health and wellness knowledge in the most positive and dramatic course of action we are capable of performing.

Keys to Prevention
Recently I received a report titled “Preventative and Healthy Immune System Strategies in Combating COVID-19,” from Vladimir Badmaev, MD, PhD, who has dedicated over 40 years of his life to the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical ingredient industry. 

A section of the unpublished report stated one of the emerging nutritional means of supporting our natural or innate immune response—the body’s first line of defense against infection—is the family of fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin D and vitamin K, which could be decisive for health, especially with age, when the immune system becomes weakened.

An interesting epidemiological finding published in 2009 in the American Journal of Public Health may shed light on the role of vitamin D, or the “sunshine vitamin,” in helping fight viral infection. The article described experiences at a hospital in Boston, MA during the devastating outbreak of “Spanish flu” in 1918-1919. The historical records from an “open-air” hospital in Boston suggested that some patients and staff were spared the worst of the outbreak as they benefitted from the combination of fresh air, sunlight, and scrupulous standards of hygiene, which resulted in the reduction of deaths among some patients and infections among medical staff.

In view of the Boston “open-air” hospital experience, the potential role of vitamin D should be considered in the overall approach to manage health today. Vitamin D modulates the innate and adaptive immune responses and prevents susceptibility to infections.

Vitamin D accrues in the body via two routes: nutritional ingestion, and production in the skin from the sun’s UV rays. During exposure to sunlight, 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin absorbs UV B radiation and is converted into vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol. Nutritional vitamin D3 typically is found in marine food and derived from fish liver oils. Another nutritional form of vitamin D is vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol, found in plants and mushrooms. Vitamins D2 and D3 are inactive biologically and need to be hydroxylated twice in the body, in the kidneys and the liver, to become active as 25-hydroxyvitamin D, called calcitriol. Calcitriol, a steroid hormone, is the active form of vitamin D.

Physical factors which limit access to UV-B radiation, such as clothing, sunscreen, glass, air pollution, and skin pigmentation (which screens out UV rays) significantly reduce the synthesis of vitamin D3. Because of skin pigmentation, people with darker skin are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency.

Another fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin K, especially vitamin K2 or menaquinone, is recognized as increasingly important in human health with its primary function as a calcium chaperone. Vitamin K controls a family of at least 18 calcium-dependent proteins responsible for healthy cardiovascular, immune, skeletal, and neuro-muscular systems. Hence, with its many biological functions, menaquinone is sometimes referred to as a multitasking vitamin.

Recent epidemiological studies suggest that vitamin K deficiency is frequently observed in COVID-19 patients and that the deficiency predominates in males (Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aug. 2020; Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, Aug. 2020). The deficiency of vitamin K is associated with the increased levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (chemicals produced by inflammatory cells) induced by infection. Scientists behind this discovery proposed that vitamin K deficiency could result in building-up of the inflammatory response to COVID-19 infection, contributing to respiratory distress in COVID-19 patients. In another vitamin K epidemiological study, vitamin K status was lower in patients with COVID-19 and was related to poor prognosis among patients.

Both vitamin D and K may support a healthy immune response; this type of response is non-specific, meaning that it is directed against several infectious agents, providing an umbrella emergency protection of the body. The interaction between the healthy innate and adaptive immune response is critically important for the successful clinical outcome of any future COVID-19 vaccine.

Immune-Boosting Ingredients
The key dietary ingredients that are known for their immune-boosting potential include vitamins C, D, K2 and zinc, among others.

Vitamin D. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient essential to the health and functioning of the immune system. Vitamin D enhances the pathogen-fighting effects of monocytes and macrophages—white blood cells that are important parts of immune defense—and decreases inflammation, which helps promote immune response.

Some studies show that supplementing with vitamin D may improve immune response. In fact, recent research suggests that taking this vitamin may protect against respiratory tract infections.

In a 2019 review of randomized control studies in 11,321 people, supplementing with vitamin D significantly decreased the risk of respiratory infections in people deficient in this vitamin, and lowered infection risk in those with adequate vitamin D levels (Health Technology Assessment, Jan. 2019).

Depending on blood levels, anywhere between 1,000 and 4,000 IU of supplemental vitamin D per day is sufficient for most people, however, those with more serious deficiencies often require much higher doses.

Zinc. Zinc is a mineral that is essential for immune system function. Zinc is needed for immune cell development and communication and plays an important role in inflammatory response.

A deficiency in this nutrient significantly affects the immune system’s ability to function properly, resulting in an increased risk of infection and disease. Zinc deficiency affects around 2 billion people worldwide and is very common in older adults. In fact, up to 30% of older adults are considered deficient in this nutrient.

Numerous studies reveal that zinc supplements may protect against respiratory tract infections.

In a 2019 study in 64 hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs), taking 30 mg of zinc per day decreased the total duration of infection and the duration of the hospital stay by an average of 2 days, compared with a placebo group (Pediatric Reports, May 2019).

Taking zinc long term is typically safe for healthy adults, as long as the daily dose is under the set upper limit of 40 mg of elemental zinc. Excessive doses may interfere with copper absorption, which could increase infection risk.

Vitamin K2. K2 deficiency is extremely common among Americans who eat a low-fat diet. In a study of 452 healthy adults, a shocking 97% of them had vitamin K2 deficiency and didn’t even know it (Journal of Human Nutrition & Food Science, Jan. 2016).

The richest sources of vitamin K2 are found in fatty animal proteins, egg yolks, organ meats, fermented foods, and full-fat dairy products, which Americans are told to avoid to improve their heart health and cholesterol levels. Ironically, this leads to low levels of K2, which is one of the leading causes of heart disease and many other chronic illnesses.

Vitamin C. Vitamin C is perhaps the most popular supplement taken to protect against infection due to its important role in immune health.

Vitamin C supports the function of various immune cells and enhances their ability to protect against infection. It’s also necessary for cellular death, which helps keep the immune system healthy by clearing out old cells and replacing them with new ones.

Vitamin C also functions as a potent antioxidant, protecting against damage induced by oxidative stress, which occurs with the accumulation of reactive molecules known as free radicals.

Oxidative stress can negatively affect immune health and is linked to numerous diseases.

Supplementing with vitamin C has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of upper respiratory tract infections.

A large review of 29 studies in 11,306 people demonstrated that regularly supplementing with vitamin C at an average dose of 1-2 grams per day reduced the duration of colds by 8% in adults and 14% in children (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Jan. 2013).

Additionally, high dose intravenous vitamin C treatment has been shown to significantly improve symptoms in people with severe infections, including sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) resulting from viral infections.

In total, these results confirm that vitamin C supplements may significantly affect immune health, especially in those who don’t get enough of the vitamin through their diet.

The upper limit for vitamin C is 2,000 mg. Supplemental daily doses typically range between 250 and 1,000 mg.

Additionally, elderberry, medicinal mushrooms, selenium, garlic, licorice, B-complex vitamins, curcumin, and echinacea are among the top dietary ingredients with immune-boosting potential.

Oral Thin Film (OTF) Immune Strip Melts
Science supported immune health and drug classified ingredients have been successfully formulated and manufactured for Oral Thin Film products. When reviewing Strip Melts for immune health nutraceutical supplement products, they are often developed with zinc, vitamins D3 and K2, along with other compounds.

These strips can be used with natural, artificial or a blend of flavors to offer popular tastes like berry citrus, mint, wintergreen and many different fruit flavors.

The Strip Melts oral mucosa delivery system is to simply place each strip on the tongue, swish and rotate it around the mouth as it melts within seconds. The film can be formulated upon dissolving to be swallowed or ingested for a nutraceutical regulatory compliance delivery promoting gastrointestinal absorption. The film can also be formulated for a mucosa drug or pharmaceutical delivery, promoting first pass metabolism and effects compared to tablets, capsules, and other oral solid forms, with strips having increased bioavailability.

OTF strips allow for easier supplement administration, as four out of 10 people globally have difficulty swallowing tablets and capsules. The OTF strip delivery system is well suited for the challenging consumer patient populations, either pediatric or geriatric.

The strips provide convenience with easy to carry cassettes or individual, child resistant, sealed pouches that permit usage anytime and anywhere without the need for water to aid the ingestion process.

The manufacturing of OTF Strip Melts are produced in an ISO 13485, 17025 and 9001 accredited site with cGMP manufacturing suites and cGLP microbial and research and development labs, located in the U.S.

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About the author: John G. Tobin is a creative global entrepreneur, dedicated to developing advanced science-based, growth-oriented global companies presently in the U.S. and China. He has developed both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies with associated industry advanced products and delivery systems. Presently he co-owns several companies, such as NutraFood Nutrients, Inc. with a permanent global license for WholeFood matrix Vitamin & Mineral ingredients, and NutraFood Science Delivery System, Inc., the development company for Oral Thin Film products. He is the creator of Strip Melts oral film strips, which created the first-of-its-kind OTF strips with industry leading ingredients for major global ingredient companies.