Help patients build a strong immune system to be able to understand and ward off viral infections
America has seen two viral pandemics in the last century or so. The one that lives in many of our minds is the rapid spread of the coronavirus now known as COVID-19. First reported on Dec. 31, 2019, in Wuhan, China,1 this virus has made “social distancing” and “safer at home” common, everyday terms.
The other occurred in 1918 and was caused by the H1N1 virus. That pandemic, which has since been dubbed the Spanish Flu, is credited with at least 50 million deaths worldwide, 650,000 of which were in the U.S.2
Add to this the thousands of deaths that occur annually from the latest flu3 and many people are now fearing when the next big viral infection could potentially hit. Who is most at risk of having not only more severe cases of influenza, but also of potentially dying from these bugs?
At-risk demographics
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that those most at risk of developing flu-related complications and death include:4
- Adults 65 and older
- People residing in a nursing home or long-term care facility
- Women who are pregnant
- Young children (under the age of two), especially those with neurologic conditions
- People with medical conditions that weaken their immune system, such as asthma, diabetes or cancer
- Those with body mass indexes (BMIs) that are 40 or higher
- Certain demographics, including American Indians and Alaska Natives
Concerns over the impact that viruses can have on wellness have caused many Americans to look for ways to protect their own health. Based on the data, it appears that supplements are one of the preferred preventive choices.
A spike in immune supplement use
In the year preceding March 8, 2020, supplement sales increased roughly 6%.5 Yet, the sales growth for the week of March 8 alone — when the World Health Organization reported that concern about the coronavirus began to really ramp up6 — was 35%.
Many of the products purchased during this timeframe are designed to target the immune system. On the list was vitamin C, vitamin D, and, the nutrient with the biggest one-week increase at 255%, zinc.
Research has linked all of these vitamins and minerals to improved immunity. But one question we must ask is what are some of the most common reasons a person’s immune system would be weakened?
Top immune system threats
Stress is one, with the American Institute of Stress reporting that 77% of the population reports that their levels of stress regularly manifest into physical symptoms such as fatigue, headache, upset stomach and muscle tension.7
Another immune system threat is not getting enough sleep. When you don’t get ample rest, your body is unable to produce the number of cytokines necessary to protect itself from infection and inflammation.
For some people, the problem lies with a poor diet. They aren’t giving their body the nutrients it needs to function efficiently. Others are unable to store the nutrients taken in, resulting in a poorer immune response.
Helping patients build immunity with immune supplements
There are many immune supplements you can recommend to patients who are most at risk of developing complications due to a viral infection and interested in bolstering their immunity. Some of the most beneficial include:
- Vitamin C – A 2017 article published in Nutrients shares that vitamin C boosts immunity by supporting cell-level function of the innate and adaptive immune systems.8 It also strengthens the skin’s ability to fight off environmental pathogens.
- Vitamin D – Also in 2017, the BMJ published results of a meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials involving 11,321 participants.9 After looking at the data, researchers noted that this vitamin helps protect against respiratory infections.
- Zinc – Research links zinc deficiency with severe immune dysfunction.10 Why? Its antioxidant properties aid in immune cell development and communication. It also plays an important role in inflammatory response.
- Melatonin – Melatonin is known for helping people get better sleep. Studies show that this nutrient also enhances the body’s production of cytokines, ultimately boosting immunity.11
- Curcumin – The immune system naturally increases inflammation to help the body heal. When this inflammation is long-lasting, it can be harmful. Curcumin helps reduce this type of inflammation by downregulating proinflammatory cytokines.12
As we continue to learn more about COVID-19, it’s possible that more supplements will be added to this list. In the meantime, suggesting that patients start with these can help them better protect themselves against many different viruses, the coronavirus included, in addition to a healthy lifestyle.
Dee Cee Labs — Your Partner in Immunity
Trusted since 1962, Dee Cee Laboratories Inc. was built on a solid foundation of providing health care providers with the highest-quality products available. This commitment is an honor and knowing our products help your patients live healthier isn’t something we take lightly.
As your partner in immunity, we will work with you to help your patients become less susceptible to the latest virus or bug. And we have many products available that can help achieve this goal:
- Vitamin C – Our Vitamin C product line provides patients with a diverse selection that includes Ester C™, Buffered C, Time-Release C, Chewable C, Powdered C, and C-Crystals with some single doses as high as 5,000 mg.
- Natural D-3 – Not only does vitamin D-3 help boost immunity, but it also promotes strong bones and teeth. Dee Cee’s Natural D-3 contains 5,000 IU of D-3. Other options combine this vitamin with additional health-boosting nutrients, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin K2 or fish oil.
- Zinc – This mineral is a must for all your patients, helping protect their upper respiratory tract from viruses. Dee Cee Labs offers a variety of products containing zinc, from our soothing Z Lozenge+™ to our easily-absorbed choices of ZINMAX™ or Zinc Chelate. We also include zinc in a number of our multivitamins, providing patients even more health benefits.
- Melatonin – Some patients prefer to take melatonin as a softgel; others would rather ingest it sublingually as a tablet. As your immunity partner, we supply both. We even offer Melatonin Formula 743, which is specially formulated to be suitable for vegetarians.
- Curcumin – Curcumin 950™ was developed for those who are interested in the highest dosage of curcumin; the active component in turmeric. We offer a full line of exclusive turmeric and curcumin products that include TurCumin™, Curcumin 950™, Turmeric Root Extract, and Turmeric 800 mg.
Immune Supplements Simplified
We also offer a complete 30-day supply Immune Health Package. This package makes supporting your patient’s immune system easy! This all-inclusive package includes these 4 key products:
- Z-Lozenge + Vit. C – 90 count, boosts immune function & fights respiratory tract infections
- Curcumin 950™ – 60 count, fights inflammation, modulates immune function, boosts cognition
- D-3 5000 IU – 30 count, enhances white blood cells, boosts antimicrobial peptides in the lungs
- Formula 256 Melatonin – 30 count, recharges immune system thru restful sleep
Contact Dee Cee Labs TODAY at 800-251-8182 to discuss how we can help you boost your patients’ immunity! Visit dclabs.com to learn more about our product options.
References
1 “WHO Timeline – COVID-19.” Who.int. Accessed May 8, 2020. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/27-04-2020-who-timeline—covid-19
2 “1918 Pandemic.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-pandemic-h1n1.html
3 “Burden of influenza.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html
4 “Who is at high risk for flu complications.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/index.htm
5 Grebow, J. “Dietary supplement sales skyrocket during coronavirus pandemic.” Nutritional Outlook. Apr 1, 2020. https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/trends-business/
dietary-supplement-sales-skyrocket-during-coronavirus-pandemic
6 “WHO Timeline – COVID-19.” Who.int. Accessed May 8, 2020. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/27-04-2020-who-timeline—covid-19
7 “What is stress?” The American Institute of Stress. Accessed May 8, 2020. https://www.stress.org/daily-life
8 Carr, A, & Maggini, S. “Vitamin C and immune function.” Nutrients. Nov 9, 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5707683/
9 Martineau, A et al. “Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual data.” BMJ. 2017; 356. https://
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5707683/
10 Prasad, A. “Zinc in human health: Effect of zinc on immune cells.” BioMed Central. May-Jun 2008; 14(5-6): 353-7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2277319/
11 Srinivasan, V et al. “Melatonin, immune function and aging.” Immunity & Ageing. 2005; 2: 17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1325257/
12 Jagetia, G, & Aggarwal, B. “’Spicing up’ of the immune system by curcumin.” Journal of Clinical Immunology. Jan 2007; 27(1): 19-35. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17211725
