The Association of Respiratory Viruses with Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants. Implications for the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

: The spread of a new strain of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, a pandemic poses serious health problem for all humanity. In comparison with the previous outbreaks of coronavirus infection in 2002 and 2012, COVID-19 infection has high rates of lethality, contagiousness and comorbidity. The effective methods of prevention and treatment are extremely limited. Oxidative stress is actively involved in the mechanisms of initiation and maintenance of violations of homeostatic reactions in respiratory viral infections. It is important to stop systemic inflammation aimed at "extinguishing" the cytokine "storm", caused by the production of reactive oxygen species. Antioxidant defense medications such as vitamin C, N-acetylcysteine, melatonin, quercetin, glutathione, astaxanthin, polyphenols, fat-soluble vitamins, and polyunsaturated fatty acids have proven well in experimental and clinical studies of influenza, pneumonia, and other respiratory disorders. The use of medications with antioxidant activity could be justified and most probably would increase the effectiveness of the fight against new coronavirus.

The role of vitamin C in pneumonia and COVID-19 infection in adults with European ancestry: a Mendelian randomisation study

“…It has been suggested that a dosage of 6 g of vitamin C per day normalises leukocyte vitamin C levels in respiratory infections [ 7 ] while 3–10 g per day results in lower overall mortality rates in critically ill patients [ 8 ]. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been advocacy for using antioxidants including vitamin C for prevention and treatment [ 9 , 10 ].…”

The difference in the dietary inflammatory index, functional food, and antioxidants intake between COVID -19 patients and healthy persons

“…Studies have suggested that a diet with more antioxidants can reduce the serum levels of inflammatory markers in patients and also increase patients' resistance to this viral infection by reducing oxidative stress in the body [17,18]. Mrityunjaya et al in one study have expressed that a combination of some antioxidants including Zinc, vitamin D, vitamin C, curcumin, cinnamaldehyde, probiotics, selenium, lactoferrin, quercetin, etc, in the form of a food supplement can boost the immune system, prevent virus spread, and decrease the serum inflammation markers [9,19,20].…”

“…Garlic, oat, and onion are functional foods and according to many studies results, they have many benefits for the body. Pre-clinical data reported that garlic has potential antiviral activity against pathogenic viruses [18,28,29].…”

Chemiluminescence analysis of free radical processes in seminal plasma of men with pathospermia who have undergone COVID-19 infection

“…Согласно эпидемиологическим исследованиям, во многих случаях мужского бесплодия пациенты страдают от острого или хронического воспаления мочеполового тракта [9]. Воспалительные реакции в мужской половой системе неразрывно связаны с окислительным стрессом [10], который наносит ущерб параметрам мужской фертильности, поскольку вызывает окислительное повреждение репродуктивных клеток и внутриклеточных компонентов. Разнообразные причинные факторы мужского бесплодия ведут к нарушению мужских репродуктивных функций через общие механизмы окислительного стресса и воспаления, оба из которых являются взаимосвязанными патофизиологическими процессами, и возникновение любого из них вызывает возникновение другого [11].…”