Covid, nutraceuticals for children against the virus and other viral infections

CATANIA – The administration of nutraceuticals in children can support and increase the body’s immune defenses, but also reduce the duration and severity of cold and flu-related symptoms, including Covid-19, and prevent the onset of serious complications. This is what emerges from numerous researches and clinical studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of therapies based on natural products or food supplements with immunostimulating and antiviral action. Clinical evidence at the center of a study by researchers from the University of Catania published by the scientific journal “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”. “Nutraceuticals – explain the researchers – can be extracted and used as food supplements or added to foods and in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic have aroused particular interest for the possible antiviral properties. such as resveratrol, hesperidin, quercetin, lactoferrin and some vitamins.

They have been attributed direct actions on viruses or modulations of the immune system on the pediatric population and with possible applications against SARS-CoV-2 ». The study bears the signature of the researchers and pediatricians Giuseppe Fabio Parisi, Sara Santi and Maria Papale and of prof. Salvatore Leonardi of the Uoc Pediatric bronchopneumology of the “San Marco” hospital unit of the “Policlinico” university hospital, by Giuseppe Carota and Mariarita Spampinato and by prof. Michelino Di Rosa of the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, of prof. Ignazio Barbagallo of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences of the University of Catania and of Carlo Castruccio Castracani, graduated in Pharmacy at the University of Catania and today at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the United States.