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Making light of the seriousness of the Spanish flu in those days, arrogance prevailed over prudency. False reassurances resulted in lack of trust in authorities.13 Keeping people isolated and nourishing social-phobia, led to a deteriorating society and increased hunger, not from lack of goods but because of reluctance to sell-give and deliver-donate. Building trust helps societies sustain infrastructure during crises. For example, the measures taken by the state of California, then, resulted in audacious behavior from the citizens. In California personal hygiene (masks, hand washing, keeping a distance), respect towards health care workers (unnecessary visits, home detainment), and volunteering to keep the community going were more effective since the population were given the data instead of authorities attempting to manage risk communication tactics.13
The Coronavirus Epidemic
There are no FDA-approved drugs or vaccines to prevent this coronavirus infection. The CDC itself reports that “nonpharmaceutical interventions would be the most important response strategy.”14 This comes in line with a recent study in having revealed that the COVID-19 is unique in its structure, meaning that a new virus has emerged with a spike glycoprotein in its RNA genome that may provide efficient spreading in human population.15
We propose that a micronutrient protocol must be utilized so as to protect, prevent, ameliorate, and most importantly confine the COVID-19 outbreak. Protection, prevention, and confinement are our main focus. Nutritional deficiencies affect the immune response to infections.16-17 Micronutrients and vitamins can boost immunity. Vitamin C, for example, was reported to be effective at eradicating an influenza virus.18-20 Inactivation of viruses by ascorbic acid in vitro was first recorded by Jungebult in 1935.21
With the emergence of a new pandemic virus, vaccines are generally unavailable in time to provide protection.22 Prudent utilization of vitamins, micronutrients and oxidative therapies against this pandemic virus is not a rejection of conventional medicine. We conducted a PubMed literature search on “social distancing,” which does not appear to be double-blind placebo-controlled or otherwise derived from evidence-based medicine. It’s just common sense and the knowledge of epidemic control throughout history.
Actually, in the treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in China, traditional herbal medicine had a prominent role in the strategy to contain and treat this outbreak.23 Micronutrients such as 1) magnesium (a cofactor in any DNA repair mechanisms and chromosome segregation), 2) zinc (a cofactor for Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, endonuclease IV, function of p53, FAPY-DNA glycosylase, and in zinc-finger proteins such as PARP) and 3) manganese (the vital component ofmitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase), to name few, are required to secure and protect genome stability and sustain all body functions such as immunity.24 Finally, Dr. Cheng, member of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board to the International Intravenous Vitamin C China Epidemic Medical Support Team, announced, from China, clinical trials for prevention and treatment with vitamin C. Dr Cheng has already been approved to conduct three clinical trials, two that will focus on intravenous vitamin C (IVC) at high pharmacological doses and a third one that will use liposomal-encapsulated vitamin C since this can be applied more rapidly to the population on a national scale.
Scientists around the globe are recommending micronutrient protocols to boost immunity as a first line of defense against this pandemic, since there are no other promising options at this time to help treat dying patients from coronavirus. We are of the opinion that a micronutrient cocktail could assure a shield against emerging new viral outbreaks.
Our position in treating COVID-19 virus or any emerging epidemic must be done by a well-trained licensed physician that is familiar with all the pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals recommended in the following protocol.
Vitamin C
“I have not seen any flu yet that was not cured or markedly ameliorated by massive doses of vitamin C.” (Robert F. Cathcart, MD)
Ascorbic acid also known as vitamin C is an essential vitamin. Humans do not have the capability of manufacturing vitamin C; it must be supplied exogenously.25 When used correctly it has no known toxicity other than loose stools.26-28 However, patients with very low G6PD enzyme levels can undergo hemolysis. It is thus necessary to check the blood levels of G6PD enzymes prior to high dosage administration of ascorbic acid.
During this pandemic with COVID-19, vitamin C supplementation is crucial. It is well documented in the literature that vitamin C is rapidly depleted during an infectious disease and if not replenished poor outcomes will be observed.29 Low levels of vitamin C (close to scurvy) are associated with respiratory tract infections, especially pneumonia.30 Therefore, when dealing with a serious respiratory disease like pneumonia, vitamin C becomes a necessary supportive measure. Low blood levels of ascorbic acid are consistently found in patients with viral diseases.31,32
There are reports from throughout the world that prominent physicians have exceptional anecdotal outcomes when prescribing ascorbic acid for advanced staged infectious diseases. To name a few, Dr. FR Klenner recommended >4.5 grams C, 2-4 hours /daily; Dr. RF Cathcart proposed a bolus dosage till bowel tolerance; Dr. Linus Pauling published the effective use of vitamin C during a flu disease; and Dr. A Kalokerinos advocated its use against all diseases.8 Scientists advocating its use have published data about the “Quantity – Frequency – Duration” of vitamin C use.21, 25-26, 29, 32 Effective dosing of vitamin C pharmacokinetics as an anti-viral molecule is dependent upon achieving sustained high plasma concentrations of vitamin C.30,31,33
The importance of vitamin C in health and disease has been acknowledged for every disease, even serious diseases such as viral diseases and cancer.34-37 One of the main concerns of oral vitamin C consumption is whether or not oral vitamin C can achieve maximum therapeutic blood plasma levels against viral infections of the lungs. Orally, the maximum levels that can be reached, should be at least 250 μmol/L (4.05mg/dL).38-40
Scientists have emphasized the importance of the steady high blood plasma concentration of ascorbic acid of more than 200 μmol/L.29,41 By keeping a constant high vitamin C plasma level, the body pool will reach its maximum tissue storage. As a result, during a viral disease at the onset, vitamin C will be available to quench the pathogen infection.41-43 Hume and Weyers reported that supplementation of 6 grams per day of vitamin C abolished the decline of vitamin C concentration in leukocytes by the common cold.44 Subsequently, it is documented that when blood plasma concentrations are high our body will efficaciously respond to any oxidative stress stimuli.43, 45-48
