Medical Researches
Possibly Effective
Based on 8 Researches
Vitamin C supports antiviral activityPLGA/PEG Nanoparticles Loaded with Cyclodextrin- Alkaloid Complex and Ascorbic Acid with Promising Antimicrobial Activities.
Complex formulation limits isolated effects
We investigated the potential of a unique formulation combining vitamin C with a complex of alkaloids to combat the H1N1 influenza virus. Our approach involved creating nanoparticles that encapsulate both the alkaloid-rich fraction and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to enhance the water solubility and bioavailability of these components.
The results were promising, showing that our formulated nanoparticles had a significant selective antiviral effect against the H1N1 virus, achieving an IC50 of 2.7 μg/mL. Notably, this effect was observed without harming the host cells, suggesting that the treatment could be both effective and safe.
However, it's important to note that while the presence of vitamin C in the formulation seems beneficial, we also included other active ingredients, making it difficult to assess the isolated impact of vitamin C alone. The combination of these elements appears to contribute to the overall effectiveness against influenza.
In summary, our findings indicate that this new delivery system might be a promising avenue for treating influenza viruses, with vitamin C playing a supportive role among other powerful components.
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Impact of Zinc on Vaccine ResponseModulation of T-Cell-Dependent Humoral Immune Response to Influenza Vaccine by Multiple Antioxidant/Immunomodulatory Micronutrient Supplementation.
Combination effects dilute zinc's role
We examined how combining zinc with other essential micronutrients could impact the immune response to an influenza vaccine. Our study found that this combination, including vitamins C and D, selenium, manganese, and N-acetyl cysteine, led to increased levels of protective antibodies after vaccinations in mice.
Notably, the supplementation improved not just the overall antibody response but also boosted specific immune responses vital for effective virus clearance. We observed a rise in specific types of immune cells, such as germinal center B cells and helper T cells, which are crucial in fighting off infections. Moreover, this combination influenced a greater differentiation of T helper cells, enhancing the production of important cytokines.
While our findings highlighted the beneficial effects of this micronutrient combination on immunity, it is also important to note that the study evaluated these effects in a controlled setting involving multiple micronutrients. Although zinc is included, its isolated impact on the immune response to influenza was less discernible due to the mixture of supplements tested. Overall, our research lays the groundwork for future studies aimed at improving vaccination responses through dietary adjustments.
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Zinc may prevent influenza entryEpipharyngeal Abrasive Therapy Down-regulates the Expression of Cav1.2: A Key Molecule in Influenza Virus Entry.
Significant relevance to zinc treatment
We investigated how zinc, delivered through epipharyngeal abrasive therapy (EAT), might impact the expression of a key molecule known as Cav1.2, which plays a crucial role in allowing the influenza A virus to enter cells. The study included two groups of patients: one group that received EAT, which involved scratching the epipharyngeal mucosa with a zinc chloride-treated swab, and another group that did not receive this treatment.
By analyzing tissue samples, we observed that the levels of Cav1.2 were significantly lower in the EAT-treated patients compared to those who were not treated. In fact, the expression of Cav1.2 in the patients who underwent EAT was measured to be 4.19 times lower than in the non-treated group. This suggests that the squamous metaplasia induced by EAT might help reduce the entry of the influenza virus by down-regulating this key protein.
Our findings indicate that EAT, through its zinc content, could serve as a simple and effective method to potentially prevent influenza infection by limiting the virus's ability to enter cells.
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We explored the relationship between vitamin C and influenza, delving into various studies conducted from 2000 to June 2021. In our analysis of the research, we found eleven studies that specifically examined the effects of vitamin C on influenza.
While some of these studies reported positive outcomes, we should note that the isolated benefits of vitamin C can be hard to determine. This is primarily because some studies included additional treatments, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about vitamin C alone.
Overall, we observed that while there is some interest and preliminary evidence regarding the efficacy of vitamin C in preventing or treating influenza, its stand-alone effectiveness remains somewhat unclear.
Continued research should help clarify how much vitamin C can truly contribute to combating influenza.
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We investigated how an acupoint injection containing vitamin C and B complex affected pneumonia triggered by the influenza A virus in mice. In our study, we used 60 male mice that were divided into six groups to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. One group received the vitamin solution through acupoint injections, while others received it through different methods, including intraperitoneally and at non-target points.
Our findings indicated that the acupoint injections helped reduce inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in the lung tissue of the mice. We observed improvements in survival rates and longer survival times, despite no significant impact on the viral load in the lungs. This suggests that while vitamin injections can offer some protective benefits, they do not eliminate the virus itself.
Overall, while we found some positive effects of using the V+VCo solution, the results highlight the complexity of treating viral infections like influenza. It seems that vitamin C, combined with other vitamins, can be beneficial for managing symptoms, but it doesn't directly attack the virus.
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