This excellent article written by the Immunology and Translational Research Group and the Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, highlights the roles that each of the B vitamins can potentially play in the context of COVID infection.
Their statements are based on the years of documentation of the benefits of B vitamins, paired with the increasing data on the mechanism of the COVID virus and how our immune system copes with it. You can read the article here, or check out the summary below:
B1, Thiamine– This nutrient has been shown to increase immune response and help in treatment of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Those with Thiamine deficiency have been shown to have increased inflammation and aberrant antibody activity. Antibodies, as a part of the adaptive immunity are integral in dealing with extended infection as well as variants.
B2, Riboflavin- When combined with UV light, B2 has shown the ability to destroy viral cells. It was useful when MER-Cov became an issue years ago. It has shown the ability to eradicate COVID-19 in human blood, which helps to ensure clean transfusions for critically ill patients.
B3, Niacin- This vitamin is important in prevention and repair of lung damage. It has been used previously for patients who have suffered lung damage from ventilator use.
B5, Pantothenic Acid- This vitamin has been shown to decrease inflammation and improve wound healing though studies are still very limited.
B6, Pyrodoxine- An essential nutrient in COVID infection, this has been proven to inhibit inflammation by modulating the immune system and reducing production of inflammatory cykotines. This is very important as it is the cykotine storms (unregulated inflammation caused by immune cells) which have proven to be the beginning of most severe and fatal COVID symptoms.
B9, Folic Acid- This has been shown to inhibit the ability of COVID viral cells to bind to our own. It is also used by macrophages to present viruses to the lymphocytes, (chemical communication) making it vital for the adaptive immunity to start working.
B12, Cobalamin- This nutrient, when taken in cojunction with Vitamin D and Magnesium, have been proven (in clinical study in Singapore) to reduce severity of symptoms and need for supplemental oxygen.
Summary
Due to the many ways that Vitamin B support your immune system, it is important that you get these in a good amount daily. Kadyos and Monggo are a good source, as are Bananas.
Here is a list of foods high in the Various B vitamins.