Vitamin sales are up:
How effective are they in protecting you from COVID-19
Toilet paper isn’t the only thing you can no longer find at grocery stores
By now we’ve likely all seen first hand the ominously vacant store shelves that would otherwise be stocked with toilet paper, hand soap and sanitizer. The rush to stock up on supplies amid the COVID-19 pandemic has had its most obvious impact on these items, which most of us in the modern world have never had to worry about accessing.
But personal hygiene and disinfectants are not the only items subject to stockpiling — people are reaching for health supplements like vitamin C and Zinc in mass quantities. A recent article in TIME gathered data on products purchased in March 2019 (before any of us had the faintest idea of what was to come) and March 2020 (when we were preparing for impending doom). On top of triple digit increases in purchases of toilet paper and cleaning wipes, vitamins were procured at levels 93 percent higher this year over last.
While modest attempts to boost immune systems and maintain overall well-being through health supplements is understandable in a global health crisis, the science is fairly clear that ingesting more of them won’t protect you against COVID-19 — and may even have deleterious health effects.
Vitamin C, for example, has shown signs of efficacy in both preventing and limiting the duration of respiratory tract infections by increasing immune cell function; the essential nutrient is also widely considered an effective antioxidant. Despite a swathe of evidence of its benefits, the manner in which it is consumed can affect whether or not it is truly beneficial to overall health. One study found that taking vitamin C supplements in doses of 1000mg or more was associated with a higher risk of kidney stones in men (though not in women). But that same study found that ingesting vitamin C by virtue of normal dietary intake posed no elevated risk of kidney stones.
Another common nutrient that has been suggested to help boost immune systems and fend off ailments is zinc. As it pertains to the common cold, zinc has long been posited as a useful intervention in shortening the duration of cold symptoms. Indeed, a 2011 systematic review of thirteen studies found that zinc, when taken in doses exceeding 70mg per day, serves to shorten the duration of colds by 42%. However, much like its distant cousin vitamin C, zinc supplements are far from a panacea, bringing with it some health risks like nausea and — in rare cases — loss of smell.
The decision to take vitamin and mineral supplements is ultimately one that needs to be taken in concert with a medical professional. While perhaps advantageous in certain circumstances and relatively harmless in smaller doses, a healthy and balanced diet will likely provide all the essential nutrients needed to maintain a healthy body and mind, foregoing the need for additional supplements.
What is abundantly clear is that there is no empirical evidence that any supplements will effectively prevent or fight COVID-19. That’s why experts warn people should be skeptical of any supplements claiming to do so.
There are important, proven, steps to be taken to keep yourself and others safe in limiting the spread of COVID-19. Regular exercise, for one, has been shown to boost the immune system and reduce incidences of chronic and communicable diseases like viral and bacterial infections. Sticking to a healthy diet will also support a healthy immune system. (Health Canada’s Dietary Guidelines is a good place to start). In addition to maintaining good immune system health, recommendations from health authorities with respect to proper handwashing and social distancing should be followed and consulted regularly.
Being mired in a global pandemic — the likes of which haven’t been seen in over a century — can leave the best of us turning to anything we can to try and make a difference in keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe. And while this sentiment is understandable, there is simply no conclusive evidence that taking health supplements like vitamins or nutrients will make a difference in the fight against COVID-19. The sooner we heed the advice of public health professionals, the sooner we can return to normalcy.
