Tackling long Covid, by Antony Haynes
Having practiced as a Nutritional Therapist for 28 years, Antony Haynes has implemented the principles of Functional Medicine in the UK, since 1992. Over the past decade, he has focused much clinical & research time to addressing chronic hidden viral infections, and in particular their relevance to contributing to auto-immune conditions. He currently focuses on how to mitigate, manage, improve and resolve signs and symptoms of Long Covid.
Mr Haynes, what is long Covid ?
Long Covid is one of the names given to the condition which manifests in symptoms lasting for more than three months after the first symptom onset. It is also referred to as Long-haul COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 syndrome. The most frequent symptoms of Long Covid are fatigue and shortness of breath. Interestingly, it appears that long Covid affects survivors of COVID-19 at all disease severity.
A recent study by Gold et al, published in June 2021, investigates the relationship between Long Covid prevalence and Epstein-Barr Virus reactivation. Epstein-Barr Virus is one of the nine known herpes virus types, one of the most frequent in humans and the cause of infectious mononucleosis, common in teens and young adults. The study shows that many Long Covid symptoms may not be a direct result of the SARS-Cov-2 virus but may be the result of COVID-19 inflammation-induced EBV reactivation. Studying 186 randomly chosen Long Covid 19 patients, found that 66.7% of Long Covid subjects versus 10% of control subjects in the primary study group were positive for EBV reactivation.
What nutrition can help with symptoms ?
Each person may require a different combination of nutritional and lifestyle interventions. For some, histamine plays a significant role as in Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), a condition in which the patient experiences repeated allergic symptoms such as hives, swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing and even severe diarrhoea.
Therefore, a diet that is low in histamine is key. Histamine-rich foods are alcohol (and other fermented beverages), fermented foods such as yoghurt, dairy products, dried fruits, avocados, eggplants, spinach, processed or smoked meat.
There are also a number of foods that trigger histamine release in the body, such as bananas, tomatoes, beans, papaya, chocolate, citrus fruits, walnuts, cashew and peanuts.
Alongside a watchful diet, useful histamine-lowering supplements are quercetin and vitamin C.
For others, the use of niacin (Vitamin B3) has been shown to reduce fatigue. Niacin can help restore the body’s supply of NADH, a coenzyme which is central to energy production. Apart from enabling ATP (Adenosine 5′-triphosphate, the principal molecule for storing and transferring energy in cells), NADH also supports production of the powerful antioxidant glutathione.
One of the most common expressions of Long Covid is post exertional malaise, so the intensity level and frequency needs to be approached with care and caution. This is consistent with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in which graded exercise may well NOT be part of the solution. Trial and error should teach the individual pretty quickly as to how much exercise can be done. In my experience and from what I have read, exercising one’s way out of Long Covid has not been successful.
As with all chronic conditions, it is imperative to have a sound sleep pattern and cycle. In Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and MCAS, disruptions are known, as it is with Long Covid, and this may be due to the shortness of breath / dyspnoea.
Have you created a long Covid protocol ?
As with any condition, the individual case history is key in order to give you the best overall picture of how it began and how it manifests, rather than to employ a standard protocol to treat a condition.
Some individuals may have evident gut disorders that need addressing in the first instance, before engaging in anything else or which might be more specific to fatigue or breathlessness of Long Covid.
Long Covid affects individuals to a different degree to which the original condition affected them. It would only be conjecture as to why this occurs and how one might reduce the chances of this happening. Perhaps, as with Covid-19 itself, the status of zinc, vitamin C & D play key roles; the majority of the population has been shown to be low in vitamin D, at least. Alternatively, general and systemic inflammation from poor diet or imbalanced gut health plays a role in the susceptibility of Long Covid and helps to explain the more widespread appearance of this post-viral condition.
Although scientists are declaring this an unusual condition, it must be noted that the almost 30 million worldwide sufferers of CFS would not be so quick to agree. It is hoped that more attention can be paid to these existing folks who have been struggling for years to gain recognition of having a ‘real’ condition.
In summary, Long Covid lends itself ideally well to a wholistic nutritional therapy intervention with lifestyle changes, judicious use of supplements that have a track record for helping those with CFS and MCAS and reducing excessive inflammation.
What supplements are useful to aid the recovery ?
My first choices are Quercetin at 300-500mg two or three times daily. Then I consider niacin which elicits a flushing effect and is therefore best built up slowly to minimise the intensity of the flush. Start on 50mg and build up to 250-300mg. Then I would consider N-Acetyl Cysteine at 500mg twice daily, well-absorbed turmeric extract 100-250mg twice daily, zinc at 20-30mg, vitamin C at 500mg, 2-4 times a day, selenium at 100mcg 1-2 times a day. I would also consider COQ10 at 100mg, and a low dose but active-B vitamin complex once or twice a day.
Quercetin (300-500mg) – two or three times daily just before meals
Niacin 50mg & increase the dose – on empty stomach once or twice daily.
NAC 500mg twice daily (anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, glutathione precursor)
Turmeric extract 100-250mg twice daily (anti-inflammatory)
Zinc at 20-30mg (immune support and anti-inflammatory)
Vitamin C 500mg – 2-4 times a day
Selenium 100mcg 1-2 times a day
COQ10 100mg once daily
Active-B vitamin Complex 1-2 times a day.
Vit D – 7K IU daily
It should be noted that for some an over-the-counter (OTC) anti-histamine drug can be very helpful, and for others an H2-blocker drug on prescription may be more favourable.
From : EPIDEMIOLOGY OF LONG COVID: A PRAGMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE (Jan 2021)
DIEGO CASTANARES ZAPATERO, GERMAINE HANQUET, KOEN VAN DEN HEEDE
– Summary of risk factors for (self-reported) long COVID in adjusted analyses
Symptoms during the acute phase of COVID
High number of symptoms Fatigue
Headache
Dyspnoea
Pain with deep breath Sensitive skin
Hoarse voice
Myalgia
Signs of severe pneumonia
Pre-existing risk factors
Older age
Co-morbidities (≥3 chronic conditions) Obesity
Pre-existing psychiatric disorder Blood type A
Antony Haynes BA(Hons) DipION mBANT, CNHC, mIFM
Antony has been in private practice for over 28 years and is one of the most experienced Registered Nutritional Therapists in the country. He is one of the first practitioners to implement the principles of Functional Medicine in the UK, since 1992.
Antony has seen over 18.000 clients and has learned much from the experiences. Each person is unique and has taught him that principles are what count not protocols. In addition to learning from his clients, Antony has also researched and then presented on multiple different subjects over the 28 years he has been teaching.
Over the past decade, Antony has focused much clinical & research time to addressing chronic hidden viral infections, and in particular their relevance to contributing to auto-immune conditions. He has met hundreds of clients with viral infections that have been identified with lab tests. He has witnessed improvements in the vast majority of clients after recommending a variety of remedies and natural substances to help his clients’ immune systems to function more capably vs viruses.
Meditation and spiritual awareness is a part of Antony’s everyday life and is essential to enable him to make the most appropriate choices for clients; it is not just technical knowledge that counts.
Antony is also a successful, award-winning author of two books on nutrition, The Insulin Factor (published in the UK 2004 and in the USA) and The Food Intolerance Bible (published in the UK 2005 and in Taiwan & Romania), and has appeared on television and radio.
In March 2011 Antony was awarded the CAM Magazine Award for “Outstanding Practice” for his many years of educating, inspiring, motivating and helping practitioners and patients.
The insulin factor (2004)
Insulin resistance, or Syndrome X, has taken the health world by storm and is linked to conditions such as obesity, type II diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Antony Haynes’ is a practical and accessible workbook that allows sufferers to treat and prevent insulin resistance, leading to life-long good health.
The growing Western hemisphere’s problem is due to a diet high in refined sugars and carbohydrates. It is linked to several of the most serious health conditions such as the endemic levels of obesity, type II diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
This book is a practical guide to treating and preventing insulin resistance through diet, including increase levels of the right fats and proteins and fewer refined carbohydrates. Includes all the facts surrounding Syndrome X, diagnostic questionnaires, case studies and a clear self-help plan that has evolved from Antony’s unique nutritional approach.
The Food Intolerance Bible: A Nutritionist’s Plan to Beat Food Cravings, Fatigue, Mood Swings, Bloating, Headaches, IBS and Deal with Food Allergies (2005)
Food intolerance occurs when the digestive system cannot break down a certain food or group of foods. Nearly everyone has an intolerance to some food. Food intolerances can range from fairly mild bloating and energy dips after eating to cramping or nausea, skin problems, or mood swings. Antony J. Haynes has devised a unique nutritional plan to help readers identify and avoid food intolerances and allergies, which affect nearly all Americans. By following seven simple steps, anyone can isolate and eliminate problem foods and completely reverse our symptoms. Antoinette Savill, an award-winning diets writer, has created over 70 delicious recipes that make staying on the plan easy. This book helps you to: Identify your culprit foods, eliminate trigger foods without cravings, know which lab tests work and why, and take the right nutritional supplements for your needs.