The Functional Medicine Approach to COVID-19: Virus-Specific Nutraceutical and Botanical Agents.

J M Evans, R Luby, D Lukaczer, R Rountree, P M Stone, T G Guilliams, S Yanuck, H Messier, K Ramsdell, P J Hanaway

Journal: Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.) 2020;19(Suppl 1):34-42

PMID: 33041706

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Plain Language Summary

The practice of Functional Medicine, with respect to interventions, emphasizes the primacy of safety, validity, and effectiveness. Data for the effectiveness of interventions targeting the viral mechanisms of Covid-19 are nascent and rapidly emerging. The aim of this review was to assess the scientific plausibility of promising prevention approaches and therapeutic (nutraceutical and botanical) interventions and suggest clinical recommendations. A coronavirus such as SARS-CoV-2 can be deadly because of its ability to stimulate a part of the innate immune response called the inflammasome. This can cause uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to cytokine storm and severe, sometimes irreversible, damage to respiratory epithelium. In order to prevent the activation of a particular inflammasome the following compounds are being recommended; quercetin, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, n-acetylcysteine, resveratrol, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin C, elderberry, melatonin, zinc and palmitoylethanolamide. Authors emphasise that the recommendations are meant to identify botanical and nutraceutical agents that may boost the immune system and not as a means of treatment.

Abstract

As the novel infection with SARS-CoV-2 emerges, objective assessment of the scientific plausibility of nutraceutical and botanical interventions for prevention and treatment is important. We evaluate twelve such interventions with mechanisms of action that modulate the immune system, impair viral replication, and/or have been demonstrated to reduce severity of illness. These are examples of interventions that, mechanistically, can help protect patients in the presence of the prevalent and infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus. While there are limited studies to validate these agents to specifically prevent COVID-19, they have been chosen based upon their level of evidence for effectiveness and safety profiles, in the context of other viral infections. These agents are to be used in a patient-specific manner in concert with lifestyle interventions known to strengthen immune response (see related article in this issue of

Address: The Center for Functional Medicine, Stamford CT.; The Institute for Functional Medicine, Federal Way, WA.; Boulder Wellcare, Boulder, CO.; Stone Medical, Ashland, OR.; Point Institute, Stevens Point, WI.; The Yanuck Center for Life and Health, Chapel Hill, NC.; Medical Intelligence Learning Lab, Inc (MILLI), San Jose, CA.; The Institute for Functional Medicine COVID-19 Task Force, Federal Way, WA.