Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak all over the world, people already believed that taking vitamin supplements would boost their immunity and shield them from all sorts of illnesses and viruses.
Now, some have the belief that taking supplements will protect them from the COVID-19. Well, experts have a thing or two to say about that.
Experts Claim Having More Supplements During this COVID-19 Outbreak Won’t Help
Ashley Koff, a registered dietitian in Columbus, Ohio has received an influx of requests from people for information on if dietary supplements would help to protect them from the COVID-19.
Among the dietary supplements that are on their lists include elderberry syrup, colloidal silver and oil of oregano to allegedly boost their immune systems.
In fact, at least one person who had fallen ill with the coronavirus and had been sent home to recover asked Koff what supplements were recommended.
Others have also asked if they could use essential oil as hand sanitizers.
Koff is the chief executive of The Better Nutrition Program, which provides nutrition advice to individuals and corporate wellness programmes.
“Someone asked me if they should do a detox juice cleanse and I told them absolutely not.
“Someone else asked me if they should be doing a fast. I told them anything that’s depleting your body of resources right now is going to increase the risk of you getting sick.”
But still…
Dietary Supplement Sales Have Increased
Dietary supplement sales have increased nationwide as people stock up on vitamins, herbs, extracts and cold and flu remedies.
First world problem, indeed.
But the catch is that none of these dietary supplements has been shown to lower your chances of being infected by the COVID-19.
It also doesn’t seem to help you recover from the virus any faster.
Experts believe that the reason that there is an increase in the sale of supplements might be because people are trying to strengthen their immune system and at the same time ease their anxiety towards the virus.
“The numbers we are seeing are unprecedented,” said Joan Driggs, an analyst at IRI, a market research firm that tracks supplement sales at Walmart, Walgreens, Safeway, CVS and other drugstores and retailers.
“People are trying to protect themselves, and they feel that they have to take advantage of whatever resources are at hand.”
Sales of vitamin C, a supplement believed to boost immunity, surged 146 per cent, while sales of zinc, a popular remedy for colds and respiratory illness, shot up 255 per cent.
Sales of elderberry supplements, which are marketed for immune support, are up 415 per cent. Echinacea, an herb used for cold and flu relief, jumped 122 per cent.
Some stores and pharmacies have even resorted to limiting the sale of some vitamins and supplements to customers due to the falling supplies and increased demand.
No Evidence It Will Help Fight Against COVID-19
That said, the evidence for most of these supplements isn’t strong.
The bottom line is that it isn’t possible to extrapolate that they will help to prevent or treat the coronavirus just because they can fight against the common cold and flu, said Kamal Patel, a nutrition researcher and the director of Examine.com, a large and independent database of supplement research.
This is because the viruses are different from each other as the coronavirus has a more severe impact on the lower respiratory tract and a longer incubation period compared to viruses that cause colds and influenza.
The key is to focus on your diet, stress levels and sleep instead.
And the best-est way to prevent catching the virus?
Practise good personal hygiene and safe distancing.