07/04/2020
The myth of ‘immune boosting’…
I went to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things in early March. I saw a friend who was there, she said, to pick up some vitamin C to boost her immune system, for coronavirus. We had already had a few cases locally, some of the earliest in the country. Not only was the vitamin C she wanted sold out, but the whole shelf of supplements containing anything with vitamin C was gone. I’d never seen the supplement shelves so empty. Since that time, I’ve had many patients ask me what they can do for their immune system.
The immune system is more than just white cell ‘bouncers’ that float around your blood getting rid of all the viruses and bacteria in your body. If they were, they would be greatly outnumbered. Estimates vary, but it’s clear that we have many times more bacteria and viruses in our body than we do human cells. Fortunately, 99.9% of them are not pathogenic, ie, they don’t cause harm. In fact, many of them are quite beneficial and essential to our well-being. So, how do our ‘bouncers’ know who belongs and who doesn’t, who is there to hurt us and who is there to help us?
Our immune system is a complex web composed of many kinds of cells with different jobs, with many different receptors, for many different cytokines (chemical messengers). Those messages can promote immune tolerance, such as, “we know this bacterium, it’s not harmful, so everyone can relax”. This is the message your immune system projects when it contacts a beneficial bacteria as part of a healthy microbiome. If your immune system senses that there is a pathogenic bacteria or virus invading part of your body, it projects the opposite message. “We’re being attacked, and we need EVERYONE fully activated and fighting to the death.” This extreme reaction is ‘cytokine storm’ that you hear about which is what kills people with COVID-19. Levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interferons, interleukins, and TNF (tumor necrosis factor) skyrocket. It’s like a roaring fire that destroys everything in its path to kill the infection.
A healthy immune response to any pathogen is somewhere in between. You want your immune system activated in a very specific, limited way, enough to kill the pathogen, but not to the point of mass destruction.
So you see, ‘boosting’ your immune system to fight coronavirus is not as simple as it sounds. It may NOT be the best thing to do, especially if you already have underlying inflammation. Having excess adipose tissue (yes, fat) elevates baseline inflammation. Inflammation plays a role in chronic diseases like such as heart and vascular disease. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why people with chronic disease seem to have worse outcomes with COVID. Your immune system may already be ‘boosted’ or activated. Then, when a complete strange invader like SARS-CoV-2 hits, your immune system fires on all cylinders and you get the cytokine storm, which is the main cause of ICU admission and death in COVID.
You likely need to do things that promote immune surveillance, tolerance, discretion, and balance, but also gives your immune system the raw materials needed to mount a good response. These are simple things like getting enough quality sleep, eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, managing stress, and enjoying regular physical activity. Stress, sleep loss, sugar, and alcohol are NOT doing your immune system any favors. These simple lifestyle habits are by far the most important aspects of maintaining healthy immunity. You can’t supplement your way out of a poor diet and lifestyle.
My next few posts will be more focused and detailed on the evidence behind exactly how daily habits, foods, and activities can impact your immunity. I will also look at the evidence behind ‘immune boosting’ supplements such as vitamin A, C, and D, elderberry, echinacea and others, and exactly what they are doing.
Post below if you want to hear more about any specific topic!
