Long COVID CARE Favourite Therapies Highlights #2 Luteolin
Every week here at Long COVID CARE we are astounded at the growing breadth and depth of positive and novel research for the use of CM in Long COVID, especially when so many of our patients report lack of hope from their standard medical care, limited therapeutic options and sometimes even denial of the need for any therapies despite their obvious health decline.
We are doing our best to follow, educate, utilise, inspire and hopefully contribute to this research.
Editorials like this sure are inspiring “the emergence of Long-COVID syndrome in most infected patients necessitates the development of treatment approaches that may prevent viral entry by blocking both serine proteases involved, as with a liposomal blend of the natural flavonoids luteolin and quercetin.” (1)
Strong evidence for trying this simple, safe and cost effective nutritional medicine Luteolin exists when patients are determine as suffering a key set of aetiological drivers we look for in our Long COVID suffering patients.
Luteolin’s effect is due in part to to its antioxidant action. It’s therapeutic actions have been researched in Long COVID for its actions on the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins right through to resolution of olfactory and neuronal inflammatory dysfunction leading to brain fog.
The research is very promising including this 2022 Review article on the involvement of the spike proteins in the development of Long COVID that concluded “As a result, one wonders whether the spike protein entering the brain or being expressed by brain cells could activate microglia, alone or together with inflammatory cytokines, since protective antibodies could not cross the BBB, leading to neuro-inflammation and contributing to long-COVID. Hence, there is urgent need to better understand the neurotoxic effects of the spike protein and to consider possible interventions to mitigate spike protein-related detrimental effects to the brain, possibly via use of small natural molecules, especially the flavonoids luteolin and quercetin.” (2)
The 2022 Cell Journal randomised controlled trial ‘Effect of Ultra-Micronized Palmitoylethanolamide and Luteolin on Olfaction and Memory in Patients with Long COVID: Results of a Longitudinal Study’ looked at whether treatment with palmitoylethanolamide and luteolin (PEA-LUT) leads to improvement in the quantitative or qualitative measures of olfactory dysfunction or relief from mental clouding in patients affected by long COVID. Finding patients with long COVID and chronic olfactory loss, a regimen including oral PEA-LUT and olfactory training ameliorated olfactory dysfunction and memory. (3)
Our favourite article, a review in Biofactors ‘Long-COVID syndrome-associated brain fog and chemofog: Luteolin to the rescue’ says it all… “COVID-19 leads to severe respiratory problems, but also to long-COVID syndrome associated primarily with cognitive dysfunction and fatigue. Long-COVID syndrome symptoms, especially brain fog, are similar to those experienced by patients undertaking or following chemotherapy for cancer (chemofog or chemobrain), as well in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) or mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). The pathogenesis of brain fog in these illnesses is presently unknown but may involve neuroinflammation via mast cells stimulated by pathogenic and stress stimuli to release mediators that activate microglia and lead to inflammation in the hypothalamus. These processes could be mitigated by phytosomal formulation (in olive pomace oil) of the natural flavonoid luteolin.”(4)
Chat to your Long COVID CARE practitioner next consultation to discuss suitability, accessibility, effectiveness and potential pharmaceutical drug:nutrient interactions to ensure safety for you.
This article is intended to be informational only. It is not intended to be used as medical advice and does not take the place of advice from a qualified health care practitioner in a clinical setting. Please check with your healthcare practitioner before embarking upon any of the treatments discussed.
References:
(1) Theoharides TC, Lauritano D, Ronconi G, Calvisi V, Conti P. Antibodies for COVID-19 - which, when and how long? J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2021 Mar-Apr;35(2):417-422. doi: 10.23812/Theo_edit. PMID: 33896155.
(2) Theoharides TC. Could SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Be Responsible for Long-COVID Syndrome? Mol Neurobiol. 2022 Mar;59(3):1850-1861. doi: 10.1007/s12035-021-02696-0. Epub 2022 Jan 13. PMID: 35028901; PMCID: PMC8757925.
(3) De Luca P, Camaioni A, Marra P, Salzano G, Carriere G, Ricciardi L, Pucci R, Montemurro N, Brenner MJ, Di Stadio A. Effect of Ultra-Micronized Palmitoylethanolamide and Luteolin on Olfaction and Memory in Patients with Long COVID: Results of a Longitudinal Study. Cells. 2022 Aug 17;11(16):2552. doi: 10.3390/cells11162552. PMID: 36010630; PMCID: PMC9406356.
(4) Theoharides TC, Cholevas C, Polyzoidis K, Politis A. Long-COVID syndrome-associated brain fog and chemofog: Luteolin to the rescue. Biofactors. 2021 Mar;47(2):232-241. doi: 10.1002/biof.1726. Epub 2021 Apr 12. PMID: 33847020; PMCID: PMC8250989.