Several micronutrients are involved in innate and/or adaptative immune response, inflammatory signaling pathways, or host redox homeostasis, especially during viral infections. Once inside the target cell, viruses develop molecular strategies by manipulating the host environment for their own replication. Viruses can hijack cellular micronutrients and processes resulting in unadapted host responses that can contribute to enhanced morbidity. This may lead to the depletion of the host micronutrient stores. Micronutrients adjunct therapy can act through a variety of mechanisms by restoring host cell homeostasis and balanced response capacity but also, to some extent, through direct antiviral effect.
There has been indeed accumulating evidence in basic science suggesting that several micronutrients play important roles in the fight against viruses like zinc and selenium. Zinc and Selenium can exert antiviral effects and enhance the IFN-1 response that affects the function of NK cells. Moreover, zinc is involved in the modulation of inflammatory cytokines. The latter may inhibit the NF-kb signaling and subsequently reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Similarly, vitamin D, is involved in the proliferation and activation of virus-specific immune cells through its receptor. It may promote the up-regulation of cytokines and their recruitment to infected sites. Vitamin D deficiency induces activation of the renin-angiotensin system resulting in increased inflammatory response. Vitamin C, has an immuno-modulation function; its form of dehydroascorbic acid has been shown to inhibit the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1, poliovirus type 1and influenza virus type A .
Thus, singly or in combination, different micronutrients may act synergistically in support of the immune response against invading viruses. This immune support can be enhanced by the addition of molecules such as omega 3 or Coenzyme Q10. Micronutrient deficiency may also result in increased susceptibility to viral infection and lead to poorer outcomes
However, there are few interventional trials in humans establishing the supplementation effectiveness which are not always conclusive and difficult to interpret. The issue is indeed complex, due to difficulties in study design and implementation and the frequency of confounding factors as well as low funding in this area.
This research topic is meant to bridge the gap between basic science and meaningful clinical practice in translating the latest highlights on antiviral defense from bench science to applied clinical bedside. We encourage scientists to submit papers focused on:
- various aspects of the effectiveness of antiviral therapeutics of micronutrients and as a preventive approach for at-risk populations.
- Micronutrients as a preventive and therapeutic approach in different age groups, from infancy to adulthood, as well as the elderly who are particularly prone to immuno-senescence
- researches increasing the level of evidence for micronutrient supplementation during human infection with emerging and non-emerging viruses which may lead to more robust evidence-based clinical guidelines.
We welcome papers on randomized controlled trials and observational studies (cohort, cross-sectional and case-controlled studies) as well as observational case series. Virology or bio-informatics analysis with potential clinical significance are also welcomed.
Several micronutrients are involved in innate and/or adaptative immune response, inflammatory signaling pathways, or host redox homeostasis, especially during viral infections. Once inside the target cell, viruses develop molecular strategies by manipulating the host environment for their own replication. Viruses can hijack cellular micronutrients and processes resulting in unadapted host responses that can contribute to enhanced morbidity. This may lead to the depletion of the host micronutrient stores. Micronutrients adjunct therapy can act through a variety of mechanisms by restoring host cell homeostasis and balanced response capacity but also, to some extent, through direct antiviral effect.
There has been indeed accumulating evidence in basic science suggesting that several micronutrients play important roles in the fight against viruses like zinc and selenium. Zinc and Selenium can exert antiviral effects and enhance the IFN-1 response that affects the function of NK cells. Moreover, zinc is involved in the modulation of inflammatory cytokines. The latter may inhibit the NF-kb signaling and subsequently reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Similarly, vitamin D, is involved in the proliferation and activation of virus-specific immune cells through its receptor. It may promote the up-regulation of cytokines and their recruitment to infected sites. Vitamin D deficiency induces activation of the renin-angiotensin system resulting in increased inflammatory response. Vitamin C, has an immuno-modulation function; its form of dehydroascorbic acid has been shown to inhibit the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1, poliovirus type 1and influenza virus type A .
Thus, singly or in combination, different micronutrients may act synergistically in support of the immune response against invading viruses. This immune support can be enhanced by the addition of molecules such as omega 3 or Coenzyme Q10. Micronutrient deficiency may also result in increased susceptibility to viral infection and lead to poorer outcomes
However, there are few interventional trials in humans establishing the supplementation effectiveness which are not always conclusive and difficult to interpret. The issue is indeed complex, due to difficulties in study design and implementation and the frequency of confounding factors as well as low funding in this area.
This research topic is meant to bridge the gap between basic science and meaningful clinical practice in translating the latest highlights on antiviral defense from bench science to applied clinical bedside. We encourage scientists to submit papers focused on:
- various aspects of the effectiveness of antiviral therapeutics of micronutrients and as a preventive approach for at-risk populations.
- Micronutrients as a preventive and therapeutic approach in different age groups, from infancy to adulthood, as well as the elderly who are particularly prone to immuno-senescence
- researches increasing the level of evidence for micronutrient supplementation during human infection with emerging and non-emerging viruses which may lead to more robust evidence-based clinical guidelines.
We welcome papers on randomized controlled trials and observational studies (cohort, cross-sectional and case-controlled studies) as well as observational case series. Virology or bio-informatics analysis with potential clinical significance are also welcomed.
