Journal
NUTRITION
Volume 83, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2020.111089
Keywords
Algae; Nutraceuticals; Immune-booster; Antiviral; Coronavirus; COVID-19
Categories
Funding
- National Research Foundation, Republic of South Africa [UID 84166]
- Durban University of Technology
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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to global trepidation due to its increasing mortality rate with no specific therapies or vaccines currently available. Nutraceuticals, particularly algae-based ones like Spirulina, show promise in boosting immunity and potentially combating viral diseases. These supplements contain various antiviral compounds that could play a role in fighting infections and disease progression.
The outbreak of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 that has created huge trepidation worldwide, has a mortality rate of 0.5% to 1% and is growing incessantly. There are currently no therapies and/or vaccines that may help abate this viral disease, but the use of masks and social distancing can limit the spread. Boosting immunity has been a simple way to resist viral infection and limit fatalities. In this context, the use of nutraceuticals appears to be a potential panacea. The ability of algae-based nutraceuticals, mainly Spirulina, to boost immunity against viral diseases has already been reported clinically. Spirulina-based nutraceuticals boost the adaptive and innate immunity, and bioactive compounds, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor peptides, phycobiliproteins, sulfated polysaccharides, and calcium-Spirulan, can serve as antiviral agents. The presence of these molecules indicates its potential role in resisting infection and COVID-19 disease progression. This review focuses on the potential role of algal nutraceuticals as immune boosters to combat the human coronavirus and other viral diseases. The potential use of Spirulina-based nutraceuticals for combating COVID-19, its mechanism, and future directions have also been discussed. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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