Can Vitamin B1 and D help remedy “Long Coronavirus” Symptoms and reduce Flu Variant hospitalisation?

There are many indications that micro-nutrient deficiencies – including deficiencies of Vitamin D and Vitamin B1 may make some individuals vulnerable to SARS-Coronavirus 2 (aka “Covid” and its complications.

Vitamin D was initially reported as a deficiency in 86% of hospitalised cases by unconfirmed source reporting within Britain’s NHS. This was followed up by a King’s College, London study, developed in conjunction with Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust and the University of South Australia, which ASSERTED that subjects/patients, that had adequate levels of Vitamin D (in fact a hormone) in their circulation, vastly reduced symptoms, and by default, their likelihood of hospitalisation by Coronavirus symptoms.

Common, more chronic symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include Low Back Pain, *Depression, Shin Pain, Fatigue, Sweating, Growing Pains, Diffuse Body Aches/Pains. *Reference: Shaffer JA, Edmondson D, Wasson LT, Homma K, Ezeokoli N, Li P, Davidson KW (April 2014). “Vitamin D supplementation for depressive symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials”. In Psychosomatic Medicine.

Given that SARS-Coronavirus 2 is essentially a hybrid respiratory/cardiovascular, aerosol spread ,’flu’-variant, with blood clotting complications, it would be fair to say that Vitamin D could assist in reducing the likelihood of hospitalisation, in Influenza cases. So how might it do this?

Simple really, Vitamin D prevents the bacteria or infecting ‘agent’ from entering the cells via the ACE 2 Receptor to which it locks on. So metaphorically speaking, think of it as being akin to a baseball catcher’s mitt (in this example, the ball is the bacteria and the glove is the ACE 2 Receptor). Vitamin D would be akin to a substance that prevents the ball being gripped and locking into the gloves. This is very simplistic, but you get the point. So supplementation with Vitamin D together with Vitamin K2 is well worth the effort.

Now to “Long Covid” related issues, which are loosely defined as a range of symptoms, that affect multiple organ systems, for at least three months, post Corona-Virus infection.

Common Symptoms include, but are not limited to;

• Fatigue: Extreme tiredness, especially worsened by physical or mental effort (post-exertional malaise). 
• Respiratory issues: Shortness of breath, persistent cough, chest pain. 
• Neurological symptoms: “Brain fog” (difficulty concentrating, memory problems), headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbances, pins-and-needles sensations. 
• Cardiovascular symptoms: Heart palpitations, fast or irregular heartbeat, lightheadedness when standing (possible POTS). Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system characterized by an excessive increase in heart rate upon standing, typically defined as a rise of 30 beats per minute or more (or over 120 bpm) within 10 minutes of standing in adults.
• Sensory changes: Loss or alteration of smell or taste (anosmia/dysgeusia), tinnitus, vision changes. 
• Musculoskeletal: Muscle and joint pain. 
• Gastrointestinal: Digestive issues like diarrhea, constipation, bloating. 
• Mental health: Anxiety, depression, mood changes. 
• Other: Rash, hair loss, changes in menstrual cycles, and ongoing fever

So, of interest to me in this respect as a Medical Practitioner/Researcher, are the Cardiovascular and Neurological complications. In both instances, these resemble an illness prevalent in the DEVELOPING WORLD, called BERIBERI. BeriBeri is essentially Vitamin B1 deficiency and it wasn’t a surprise that Brazilian Doctors reported in Feb 2021 an ‘immediate neurological improvement’ and “accelerated ventilatory weaning” in patients who had endured SARS-Coronavirus 2 related neurological symptoms after they received INTRAVENOUS VITAMIN B1 treatment.

Practitioners including Bill Sardi have queried whether cases of SARS-Coronavirus 2 (including Long Covid) could in fact be BeriBeri (Vitamin B1 deficiency). Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) is crucial in the first phase (of the three phase) energy production cycle controls the autonomic nervous system, affecting functions such as breathing, heartbeat and digestion. Beri Beri has two variants, WET and DRY Beri-Beri. Wet Beri-Beri affects the Cardiovascular system with Dry Beri-Beri affecting the Nervous system

Sardi commented that many aspects of modern living such as over-consumption of sugars, alcohol, coffee/tea and medicines like the anti-diabetic drug metformin can help reduce B1 deficiencies or block the Vitamin’s absorption. He has also hypothesized that increase consumption of those during lockdowns and remaining indoors during periods of inclement weather (a Northern European/North American winter being an example) could explain what has come to be known as “Long Covid” to some.

An interesting test outlined in Collected Published Articles by Dr George Goodheart, a pioneer and developer of Applied Kinesiology and developed by DAVID LEAF to see if you are Vitamin B1 deficient involves; STEP ONE – TAKING A BREATH IN AND THEN releasing/breathing out, HALF WAY, before HOLDING at that half-way mark. You should then be able to hold it for 20 seconds. If you can’t, supplement with Vitamin B1.

It is also recommended for excessive nighttime urination requirements.