Ambulatory COVID-19 Patients Treated with Lactoferrin as a Supplementary Antiviral Agent: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2, an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus causing COVID-19, exerts morbidity and mortality especially in elderly, obese individuals and those suffering from chronic conditions. In addition to the availability of vaccines and the limited efficacy of the first dose of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants, there is an urgent requirement for the discovery and development of supplementary antiviral agents. Lactoferrin (Lf), a pleiotropic cationic glycoprotein of innate immunity, has been proposed as a safe treatment combined with other therapies in COVID-19 patients. Here, we present a small retrospective study on asymptomatic, paucisymptomatic, and moderate symptomatic COVID-19 Lf-treated versus Lf-untreated patients. The time required to achieve SARS-CoV-2 RNA negativization in Lf-treated patients (n = 82) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) compared to that observed in Lf-untreated ones (n = 39) (15 versus 24 days). A link among reduction in symptoms, age, and Lf treatment was found. The Lf antiviral activity could be explained through the interaction with SARS-CoV-2 spike, the binding with heparan sulfate proteoglycans of cells, and the anti-inflammatory activity associated with the restoration of iron homeostasis disorders, which favor viral infection/replication. Lf could be an important supplementary treatment in counteracting SARS-CoV-2 infection, as it is also safe and well-tolerated by all treated patients.

Lactoferrin as Antiviral Treatment in COVID-19 Management: Preliminary Evidence

“…Accordingly, we documented a significantly reduced mean time to rRT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 RNA negative conversion in a liposomal bLf-treated group compared to SOC-treated and untreated patients, suggesting a favoring of gradual viral clearance and clinical symptoms recovery with a potential decrease in the risk of transmission and contagion. This result is in agreement with the data obtained by Rosa et al [58] in a survey based on reallife clinical practice conducted on ambulatory asymptomatic, paucisymptomatic, and moderate symptomatic COVID-19 patients treated with bLf, alone or as a supplementary agent. BLf oral administration, unloaded in liposomes, induces a time to SARS-CoV-2 RNA negativization similar to that observed with liposomal bLf (15 versus 14.25 days).…”

Lactoferrin as Immune-Enhancement Strategy for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients

“…In another clinical study in Tor Vergata University Hospital (Rome, Italy), oral and intranasal liposomal bLf was administered in asymptomatic and mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients compared to standard of care (SOC)-treated and untreated COVID-19 patients ( 14 ). In agreement with previously reported data ( 13 ), significantly less mean time to SARS-CoV-2 RNA negative conversion was detected in a liposomal bLf-treated group compared to SOC-treated and untreated patients (14 versus 27 days), with fast clinical symptoms recovery ( 14 ). Moreover, in liposomal bLf-treated patients, a significant reduction in serum IL-6, ferritin and D-dimers levels was shown ( 14 ).…”

“…Based on preclinical studies, Rosa and colleagues developed a recent study to assess the efficacy of oral bLf on ambulatory COVID-19 patients ( 13 ). Results of this study revealed that the time required achieving SARS-CoV-2 RNA negativization in bLf-treated patients was lower compared to that reported in bLf untreated patients (15 versus 24 days).…”

“…This means that the bLf treatment may improve outcomes in patients suffering from COVID-19, including those with comorbid diseases, and advanced age. Furthermore, they detected a very interesting association between symptom reduction and age: bLf was able to reduce the time to symptom resolution with advancing age ( 13 ). This fact could be associated with the hormonal control of hLf synthesis ( 143 ), and that decreases with age.…”

The Role of Nutrients in Prevention, Treatment and Post-Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19)

“…It has been shown that asymptomatic, pauci-symptomatic, and moderate COVID-19 lactoferrin-treated patients show faster virus negativization and more rapid clinical recovery than untreated patients. Furthermore, Lactoferrin treatment is safe and well tolerated in all treated patients [ 106 , 107 ].…”