Clinical rationale for dietary lutein supplementation in long COVID and mRNA vaccine injury syndromes

F1000Res. 2024 Oct 17:13:191. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.143517.3. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Lutein, a plant-derived xanthophyl-carotenoid, is an exceptional antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituent found in food. High dietary intake of lutein is beneficial against eye disease, improves cardiometabolic health, protects from neurodegenerative diseases, and is beneficial for liver, kidney, and respiratory health. Lutein protects against oxidative and nitrosative stress, both of which play a major role in long COVID and mRNA vaccination injury syndromes. Lutein is an important natural agent for therapeutic use against oxidative and nitrosative stress in chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. It can also potentially inhibit spike protein-induced inflammation. Rich dietary supplementation of lutein, naturally derived in non-biodegradable Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), can most optimally be used against oxidative and nitrosative stress during post-COVID and mRNA vaccination injury syndromes. Due to its high oleic acid (OA) content, EVOO supports optimal absorption of dietary lutein. The main molecular pathways by which the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces pathology, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer activated B cells (NF-κB) and activated protein (AP)-1, can be suppressed by lutein. Synergy with other natural compounds for spike protein detoxification is likely.

Keywords: Lutein; chronic illnesses; post-COVID and mRNA vaccination injury syndromes; inflammatory response; reactive oxygen species; extra virgin olive oil..

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / administration & dosage
  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / adverse effects
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Humans
  • Lutein* / administration & dosage
  • Lutein* / therapeutic use
  • Olive Oil
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / immunology
  • mRNA Vaccines

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Lutein
  • mRNA Vaccines
  • Olive Oil
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2

Grants and funding

The author(s) declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work.