The Medical Advisor

Can vitamin D help against COVID-19 ? In recent weeks and months, several publications and studies have suggested that maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D would seem potentially beneficial in fighting the COVID-19 infection. This article explains what you need to know about vitamin D and COVID-19. What Is Vitamin D? Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it dissolves in fats and oils and can be stored in your body for a long time. Two main dietary forms exist ( Trusted Source ): Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Found in some animal foods, like fatty fish and egg yolks. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). Found in some plants, mushrooms, and yeasts. Of the two, D3 (cholecalciferol) seems to be almost twice as effective at increasing blood levels of vitamin D as D2 (ergocalciferol) ( Trusted Source ,  Trusted Source ). What Does It Do in Your Body? Vitamin D needs to undergo two conversion steps to become active ( Trusted Source ,  Trusted Source ). First, it is converted to calcidi

A stem cell therapy boosted Covid-19 survival rates five-fold for patients hooked up to ventilators, Spanish scientists have claimed. Two out of the 13 patients in the small study died, with the remainder returning from the brink of death after doctors assumed at least 11 of them would succumb to the disease. Overall 70 per cent of patients saw improvements despite being in the most critical category of illness. The researchers admitted they did not expect such positive results but cautioned their research was only on a small number of patients. The treatment works by injecting patients with cells taken from the fat tissue of liposuction patients - typically women under 50 years old and with no other health conditions. These cells are thought to bolster the immune system, providing vital support for Covid-19 patients who are fighting the virus, most of whom are elderly and frail. The stem cells also managed to tone down inflammation, which is internal swelling that ha

Most of us would probably know what antioxidants are. But do we know which 'one' of the antioxidants is the best? This molecule is 'the one and only' antioxidant that can both penetrate the mitochondria and neutralize the reactive oxygen species in your body. For starters, H2 is a potent selective antioxidant. This is important, as many other antioxidants, such as vitamin C and E are not selective, and when taken in excess, can be counterproductive. Molecular hydrogen has been shown to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is 'the one and only' antioxidant that can both penetrate the mitochondria and neutralize the reactive oxygen species (ROS) ( Med Gas Res. 2020 ). Hydrogen doesn't have that downside, which is one of the reasons why it's my favorite. Now, when we talk about molecular hydrogen, we are talking about the gas, the H2 molecule, which is two hydrogen atoms bound together. The H2 molecule is the smallest in the

As Malaysia’s economy emerges from the shutdown, which has been effective in arresting the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the days ahead will look very different. The economy is reopening to a 'new normal'. We have rounded up the top 10 essential list of the 'new normal' necessities and deals for both your home and your workplace. 1. Dettol Hand Sanitiser Original 50ML Price: MYR 6.69 >  Lazada Malaysia Can’t find the nearest washroom to keep your hands clean with soap and water? Dettol Instant Hand Sanitizer comes in handy in this situation. It contains 69.4% denatured alcohol content, an essential ingredient that helps to eliminate germs around your hand. The demand for hand sanitizers is expected especially when the World Health Organization recommend that frequent and consistent hand hygiene is key to prevent the spread of the latest coronavirus. 2.  TRENY 50 PCS 3 PLY Medical Mask Anti-Dust Earloop Protective Disposable Face Mas

It has been more than 2 months since we posted the  article on COVID-19 death rate . Some articles said that doctors and scientists know more about COVID-19 now as compared to say 2 or 3 months ago. Does that translate into better outcomes such as the death rate? Let's compare the current death-rate vs the one in our previous article 2 months ago. Are we improving? The COVID-19 death rate is defined as the the number of known deaths divided by the total number of confirmed cases – varies widely by country right now. We have selected countries that are among the highest and the lowest in the world. COVID-19 Death Rates: Apr 25 vs Jul 4, 2020 As of Jul 4, 2020, the global death rate is at about 4.7%, a significant decrease as compared to 7% on Apr 25, 2020. This supports the theory that we are better at managing the disease, globally. Even 1% difference means a lot on a global scale.  That said, we have gone above 11 million confirmed cases worldwide and the number of

The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world’s attention to the immune system, the body’s defence force against disease-causing bacteria, viruses and other organisms that we touch, ingest and inhale every day. Of late, there are dozens of supplements and treatments that claim to prevent or treat COVID19, but which ones actually work? Below, we look at some of the best options and what the existing research says about them. How to help your immune system A healthy lifestyle – not smoking, drinking little or no alcohol, sleeping well, eating a balanced diet, taking regular moderate exercise and reducing stress – helps our immune systems to be in the best shape possible to tackle pathogens. But the first line of defence is to prevent infection from entering the body. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended basic protective measures against COVID-19 are frequent hand-washing with soap and water, or cleaning hands with an alcohol-based rub; maintaining social dis