Hydroxytyrosol and Arginine as Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Immunostimulant Dietary Supplements for COVID-19 and Long COVID

• Published in: Foods Vol. 12; no. 10; p. 1937
• Main Authors: Pérez de la Lastra, José Manuel, Curieses Andrés, Celia María, Andrés Juan, Celia, Plou, Francisco J., Pérez-Lebeña, Eduardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 10.05.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Amino acids; Anti-inflammatory agents; Anti-inflammatory drugs; Antioxidants; Arginine; Blood vessels; Cardiovascular system; Chronic fatigue syndrome; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 and long COVID; Damage prevention; Dietary supplements; Food processing; Food science; Food technology; Free radicals; Health aspects; hydroxytyrosol; Immune response; Immune system; Immunostimulants; Inflammation; Injury prevention; innate and adaptive immunity; Interleukin 6; Olive oil; Oxidative stress; Plant extracts; Polyphenols; Review; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Type 2 diabetes; Viruses; innate and adaptive immunity; arginine; hydroxytyrosol; COVID-19 and long COVID
• ISSN: 2304-8158; 2304-8158
• DOI: 10.3390/foods12101937

Phytochemicals from plant extracts are becoming increasingly popular in the world of food science and technology because they have positive effects on human health. In particular, several bioactive foods and dietary supplements are being investigated as potential treatments for chronic COVID. Hydroxytyrosol (HXT) is a natural antioxidant, found in olive oil, with antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties that has been consumed by humans for centuries without reported adverse effects. Its use was approved by the European Food Safety Authority as a protective agent for the cardiovascular system. Similarly, arginine is a natural amino acid with anti-inflammatory properties that can modulate the activity of immune cells, reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α. The properties of both substances may be particularly beneficial in the context of COVID-19 and long COVID, which are characterised by inflammation and oxidative stress. While l-arginine promotes the formation of •NO, HXT prevents oxidative stress and inflammation in infected cells. This combination could prevent the formation of harmful peroxynitrite, a potent pro-inflammatory substance implicated in pneumonia and COVID-19-associated organ dysfunction, as well as reduce inflammation, improve immune function, protect against free radical damage and prevent blood vessel injury. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits of HXT and arginine in the context of COVID-19.