This Vitamin Could Be ‘Pivotal’ to Your COVID Recovery, New Research Says

With no vaccine or approved treatment for coronavirus currently available, researchers have been looking for clues to anything that might lessen the virus’s severity. Even without a major pharmaceutical breakthrough, several studies have turned up evidence that certain vitamins might be vital in combating COVID, with research pointing out that getting enough of vitamin D could potentially yield life-saving benefits. Now, thanks to a newly released report, it appears you can also add B vitamins to that list, with researchers saying they could be “pivotal” against coronavirus.

The new research, which was published in the medical journal Maturitas, cites the importance of multiple B vitamins in keeping the immune system running in top shape and helping to fight potentially dangerous inflammation. “Vitamin B not only helps to build and maintain a healthy immune system but it could potentially prevent or reduce COVID-19 symptoms or treat SARS-CoV-2 infection,” the report’s authors write. “Therefore, vitamin B status should be assessed in COVID-19 patients and vitamin B could be used as a non-pharmaceutical adjunct to current treatments.”

The authors add that vitamin B “plays a pivotal role in cell functioning, energy metabolism, and proper immune function,” noting that it helps with maintaining the body’s cytokine levels, improving respiratory function, maintaining the strength of blood vessels, preventing blood clotting issues, and “can reduce the length of stay in hospital.”

Considering the novel coronavirus is mainly a respiratory virus that attacks the lungs (as well as other organs), causes inflammation issues, and results in blood clotting, it’s clear B vitamins have some seriously helpful qualities. To find out which ones specifically—and how you can get more of them in your diet—read on. And for more on the effects of COVID-19, check out These Are the 51 Most Common COVID Symptoms You Could Have.