Covid-19: Eyes and ears on the ground reports... what isn't being reported?

[OwlHoot]

Folks

There is some speculation that Selenium - which has proven to has anti-viral properties before as I recall in the treatment of SARS/Ebola - just might be benefical in helping you to prevent SARS2 ie COV19,

The snag is excess doses of Selenium may cause, or increase the risk of, Type 2 diabetes:

2010-09-231 A prospective study of dietary selenium intake and risk of type 2 diabetes

Growing evidence raises concern about possible associations of high selenium exposure with diabetes in selenium-replete populations such as the US. In countries with lower selenium status, such as Italy, there is little epidemiological evidence on the association between selenium and diabetes. ..

But it's interesting that soils in Northern Italy, and China, are both short of Selenium, as those countries have been clobbered hardest by the virus.

[AlfredJPruffock]

Or talks. I suppose that is largely covered by exhales, but pronouncing certain consonants such as "P" would tend to expel more droplets.

Actually I wonder if there's any variation in the average number droplets expelled in talking different languages, i.e. are some more "spitty" than others?

Gadzooks Old Bean might be an idea to look at the stats for the Netherlands ...

You may be A Doctor - but I am The Doctor...

[AlfredJPruffock]

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[AlfredJPruffock]

The snag is excess doses of Selenium may cause, or increase the risk of, Type 2 diabetes:

2010-09-231 A prospective study of dietary selenium intake and risk of type 2 diabetes



But it's interesting that soils in Northern Italy, and China, are both short of Selenium, as those countries have been clobbered hardest by the virus.

Yep as always you have to find out the appropriate dosage of Selenium ie 100 to 200 μg/day.

And you are of course correct in stating that China and Italy are short of Selenium (is the UK??) apparently this scenario increases the chances of vira mutation, OK some more on this

Selenium defficiency creates a weakening of the defense against infectious diseases, especially those caused by viruses. Selenium deficiency may lead to viral genome mutations from a benign (mild) virus to a highly virulent (dangerous) virus. An adequate supply of macro- and micronutrients is vital to support host immune defense and resistance against dangerous disease-causing microorganisms. The modern-day diet is often not sufficient to meet the increased demands for micronutrients in infectious diseases. Many areas of the world have selenium deficient soils.

Dietary multimicronutrient supplements containing selenium up to 100 to 200 μg/day have potential as safe and inexpensive additional therapy in viral infections. Dietary supplementation with selenium-containing multimicronutrients might also be useful to strengthen the immune system of patients suffering from newly emerging viral diseases, such as in the current epidemic of Ebola fever in West Africa. Populations in several countries most afflicted by past and current outbreaks of Ebola fever (e.g., Liberia, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo) show a high risk of selenium deficiency. Interestingly, the lowest dietary selenium supply in Africa was reported from Liberia, with a daily intake of only 23 μg Se.

People battling with the aftermath of an acute or chronic viral infection with such viruses as the Epstein Barr Virus (glandular fever), Coxsackievirus, herpes, Ross river, etc may be able to improve far more quickly with supplemental selenium. I would also ensure plenty of zinc and vitamin C for their proven anti-viral effects.

References:
Adv Nutr. 2015 Jan; 6(1): 73–82.
Published online 2015 Jan 7. doi: 10.3945/an.114.007575
The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 133, Issue 5, May 2003, Pages 1463S–1467S, Selenium Deficiency and Viral Infection | The Journal of Nutrition | Oxford Academic
Seleniumfacts.com

[ladymuck]

If you have a good quality, well balanced, diet there should be no need to take additional supplements of anything. Taking too much of any nutrient can do more harm than good.

Of course, if your diet is gin and chocolate then perhaps a supplement may be advisable.