COVID-19's toll on the elderly and those with diabetes mellitus - Is vitamin B12 deficiency an accomplice?

Abstract:

:COVID-19 exacts a disproportionate toll on both the elderly and those with diabetes; these patients are more likely to require costly intensive care, longer hospitalisation, and die from complications. Nations would thus find it extremely difficult to either lift or sustain socially, economically, and politically damaging restrictions that keep this group of people safe. Without a vaccine, there is thus an urgent need to identify potential modifiable risk factors which can help manage overall fatality or recovery rates. Case fatality rates are highly variable between (and even within) nations; nutritional differences have been proposed to account significantly for this disparity. Indeed, vitamin B12 deficiency is a common denominator between the elderly and those with diabetes. The question on hand thus lies on whether managing B12 deficiencies will impact COVID-19 fatality outcome or recovery rates. Herein, we review the latest evidence that shows that B12 deficiency associates in multiple areas very similar to where COVID-19 exerts its damaging effects: immunologically; microbiologically; haematologically; and through endothelial cell signalling-supporting the hypothesis that B12 deficiency is a potential modifiable risk factor in our fight against COVID-19.

journal_name

Med Hypotheses

journal_title

Medical hypotheses

authors

Wee AKH

doi

10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110374

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2021-01-01 00:00:00

pages

110374

eissn

0306-9877

issn

1532-2777

pii

S0306-9877(20)33265-5

journal_volume

146

pub_type

杂志文章
  • A novel deployment design of vena cava filters might be the solution to their blockage problem.

    abstract::The blockage of a vena cava filter (VCF) by the captured blood clots presents a serious problem to the patients. Commercially available cone-shaped VCFs such as the Gunther Tulip filter has an inherent structural flaw that leads the captured blood clots to be trapped in their front spire areas where the flow-induced s...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2011.08.028

    authors: Chen Z,Fan Y,Deng X

    更新日期:2011-12-01 00:00:00

  • The iso-osmo-resistivity theory of digestion.

    abstract::This novel, iso-osmo-resistive theory offers electro-resistivity of food components as a new dimension for digestion. Firstly, fats, carbohydrates and proteins differ markedly in their resistivity, which offers a way to monitor them, especially when digestive enzymes cause consistent and distinctive changes. Secondly ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109282

    authors: Sutton JA

    更新日期:2019-09-01 00:00:00

  • Down-regulation of HLA-G gene expression as an immunogenetic contraceptive therapy.

    abstract::HLA-G is a nonclassical HLA immunotolerogenic molecule expressed in different human cell types. Successful embryo implantation is a consequence of information exchange between the uterus and the blastocyst. It is widely accepted that HLA-G expression by the fetus promotes the establishment of several mechanisms that, ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2017.03.030

    authors: Kaminski V,Ellwanger JH,Chies JAB

    更新日期:2017-05-01 00:00:00

  • Views on the sustenance of resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the environment.

    abstract::Microbial resistance to conventional as well as newly introduced drugs is a hallmark feature of several infectious diseases, notably tuberculosis. It is hypothesized that the greater the selective pressure exerted by increasingly potent drugs, the more rapidly is an organism able to adapt to a drug-containing environm...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(95)90215-5

    authors: Basu A,Mistry NF,Antia NH

    更新日期:1995-11-01 00:00:00

  • Atrial natriuretic peptide in bronchial asthma.

    abstract::Regulation of ion transport across the airway mucosa may be involved in the mechanisms producing hyperreactivity and asthma. Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) has been proposed to participate in the pathogenesis of asthma, and it has been found to have a bronchodilatory effect on asthmatic patients. Experimental eviden...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(91)90167-w

    authors: Almirall JJ,Hedenstierna G

    更新日期:1991-09-01 00:00:00

  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; a part of the metabolic syndrome in the renal transplant recipient and possible cause of an allograft dysfunction.

    abstract::Despite all improvements in transplant medicine, renal transplant recipients have a high risk for cardiovascular mortality. A high prevalence of cardiovascular complications in renal transplant recipients (RTR) is explained by cardiovascular risk factors present before transplantation, in addition to the development o...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2013.10.030

    authors: Mikolasevic I,Racki S,Lukenda V,Pavletic-Persic M,Milic S,Orlic L

    更新日期:2014-01-01 00:00:00

  • Functionalized nanoliposomes loaded with anti survivin and anti angiogenic agents to enhance the activity of chemotherapy against melanoma by 4-pronged action.

    abstract::Melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers which has very low response rate and survival rate. Melanoma cells are known to be inherently resistant to the chemotherapy which results in poor outcomes and even failure of the therapy. For this reason, a better understanding of underlying mechanism of melanoma pathogen...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2018.05.002

    authors: Mishra H,Mishra PK,Ekielski A,Iqbal Z,Jaggi M,Talegaonkar S

    更新日期:2018-07-01 00:00:00

  • Influenza caused epidemic encephalitis (encephalitis lethargica): the circumstantial evidence and a challenge to the nonbelievers.

    abstract::Twenty years ago, circumstantial evidence was compiled to link the 1918 pandemic influenza virus to a CNS disorder called epidemic encephalitis or encephalitis lethargica. A challenge was issued to naysayers. During the past two decades, the knowledge about the influenza virus and the 1918 pandemic virus in particular...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 历史文章,杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.12.012

    authors: Maurizi CP

    更新日期:2010-05-01 00:00:00

  • CRPS: A contingent hypothesis with prostaglandins as crucial conversion factor.

    abstract:UNLABELLED:CRPS is an acute pain disease expressed as chronic pain with a severe loss of tissue and function. CRPS usually occurs after minor injuries and then progresses in a way that is scarcely controllable, or completely uncontrollable. This article addresses the functional control mechanism of a biological organis...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2015.07.017

    authors: van der Veen P

    更新日期:2015-11-01 00:00:00

  • Relationship between dietary antioxidants and childhood asthma: more epidemiological studies are needed.

    abstract::Approximately 15 million Americans including over 5 million children suffer from asthma, the most common chronic disease in childhood. The prevalence of pediatric asthma has risen sharply over the past four decades, with the sharpest increases occurring in children younger than 6 years and in urban, predominantly mino...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2003.10.001

    authors: Kalantar-Zadeh K,Lee GH,Block G

    更新日期:2004-01-01 00:00:00

  • Contribution to problems of pseudohypoaldosteronism type I in children.

    abstract::Pseudohypoaldosteronism Type I may occur due to several different causes. The authors recommend distinguishing between effector and receptor disorders with regard to the diverse mode of inheritance and prognosis. ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(93)90247-n

    authors: Bayer M,Kutílek S

    更新日期:1993-09-01 00:00:00

  • The gut-blood barrier permeability - A new marker in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases?

    abstract::Recent studies suggest that blood-borne metabolites of gut microbiota, such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) are involved in the aetiology of cardiovascular diseases and may serve as markers of cardiovascular risk. To enter the bloodstream the microbiota-derived molecules need to pass the gut-blood barrier (GBB). The ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2016.11.012

    authors: Ufnal M,Pham K

    更新日期:2017-01-01 00:00:00

  • Repression of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase and the spontaneous remission or regression of cancer.

    abstract::Lactic acid produced by the malignant tumor is what keeps the malignancy going. Suppression or the removal of lactic acid is the prerequisite for any cancer treatment. ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1054/mehy.2000.1227

    authors: Niakan B

    更新日期:2001-05-01 00:00:00

  • A neurosensory hypothesis of ligament function.

    abstract::Ligaments are generally viewed as passive structural elements. Virtually all treatments for torn ligaments are based upon a structural paradigm. However, there is considerable evidence to suggest that ligaments function as neural sensors to facilitate supportive reflex contractions of muscles. It is hypothesized that ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(89)90106-0

    authors: Brand RA

    更新日期:1989-08-01 00:00:00

  • Genetic, endocrine, and viral aspects of AKR leukemogenesis.

    abstract::In the AKR strain of mice a high incidence of spontaneous lymphoid leukemia develops before 12 months of age. Genetic, viral, and endocrine factors interact during development to produce the syndrome. Many of the deficiencies of AKR mice are associated with gene action in chromosome 17, at or near the major histocompa...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(76)80005-9

    authors: Vriend J

    更新日期:1976-11-01 00:00:00

  • Hypothesis: Phytate is an important unrecognised nutrient and potential intravenous drug for preventing vascular calcification.

    abstract::Cardiovascular calcification (CVC) associated with conditions such as ageing, diabetes or renal impairment, results from the deposition of hydroxyapatite in the endothelium or media of blood vessels. Key medical management options are directed towards controlling plasma calcium and phosphate concentrations (e.g. parat...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2016.07.005

    authors: Joubert P,Ketteler M,Salcedo C,Perello J

    更新日期:2016-09-01 00:00:00

  • Intra-articular injection of parathyroid hormone in the temporomandibular joint as a novel therapy for mandibular asymmetry.

    abstract::Mandibular asymmetry (MA) is one of the most common craniofacial malformations. However, there is no optimal technique for this malformation nowadays. A novel technique for both children and adults with less disadvantages is a must. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a straight-chain polypeptide secreted by the parathyroid ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.047

    authors: Wan Q,Li ZB

    更新日期:2010-04-01 00:00:00

  • The aetiology of premenstrual syndrome is with the progesterone receptors.

    abstract::Recent work by molecular biologists into the behaviour of progesterone receptors (PR) has suggested an aetiological hypothesis for premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The proposition is that PMS is related to the transport by PR of sufficient progesterone (P) molecules into the cell nuclei during menstruating years. PR are w...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(90)90026-b

    authors: Dalton K

    更新日期:1990-04-01 00:00:00

  • Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio: Can a non-specific marker of inflammation helps to confirm the inflammatory hypothesis of the serious mental diseases? A case-control study.

    abstract:BACKGROUND:The hypotheses of autoimmune, allergic or infectious etiology of severe mental illness have been reported in the scientific literature repeatedly. The main objective of this work is to study the relationship of inflammatory, autoimmunity or recent infection markers with the fact of suffering Severe Mental Di...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109279

    authors: Olcina Rodríguez JF,Díaz Fernández J,Orta Mira N,López-Briz E,Gómez-Pajares F

    更新日期:2019-09-01 00:00:00

  • Atherosclerosis as an immune disease?

    abstract::Immunology has many effects on atherogenesis. In addition to their usual action risk factors for atherosclerosis have an immunomodulating effect and immunomodulation may be a new treatment of atherosclerosis. ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(91)90159-v

    authors: Clerc G

    更新日期:1991-09-01 00:00:00

  • Deep brain stimulation as a possible treatment of hyperthermia in patients with serotonin syndrome.

    abstract::Maintaining a body temperature within a narrow range is vital for the survival of all mammals, including humans. With the help of optogenetics, a better understanding of the thermoregulatory organs and pathways is achieved. Optogenetic activation of the GABAergic neurons in the ventral part of the lateral preoptic nuc...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109704

    authors: Koleva K,Pavlov O,Nikolov R,Behr R

    更新日期:2020-06-01 00:00:00

  • Automated Parkinson's disease recognition based on statistical pooling method using acoustic features.

    abstract::Parkinson's disease is one of the mostly seen neurological disease. It affects to nervous system and hinders people's vital activities. The majority of Parkinson's patients lose their ability to speak, write and balance. Many machine learning methods have been proposed to automatically diagnose Parkinson's disease usi...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109483

    authors: Yaman O,Ertam F,Tuncer T

    更新日期:2020-02-01 00:00:00

  • Schizophrenia, dissociative anaesthesia and near-death experience; three events meeting at the NMDA receptor.

    abstract::The three events, viz. schizophrenia, dissociative anaesthesia and Near-Death Experience, despite their seemingly unrelated manifestation to each other, have nevertheless similar functional basis. All three events are linked to the glutamate sensitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex, which serves as their...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(03)00307-4

    authors: Bonta IL

    更新日期:2004-01-01 00:00:00

  • Huperzine A: A promising anticonvulsant, disease modifying, and memory enhancing treatment option in Alzheimer's disease.

    abstract::Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia. Besides cognitive deterioration, patients with AD are prone to seizures - more than 20% of patients diagnosed with AD experience at least one unprovoked seizure and up to 7% have recurrent seizures. Although available antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may suppr...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2016.12.006

    authors: Damar U,Gersner R,Johnstone JT,Schachter S,Rotenberg A

    更新日期:2017-02-01 00:00:00

  • Is cancer stem cell a cell, or a multicellular unit capable of inducing angiogenesis?

    abstract::Cancer stem cells are presently viewed as carriers of the growth initiating potential, repopulation capability and drug resistance in tumors. However, many of these fundamental properties of cancer are host-related, modified by cell-cell interactions and/or dependent on angiogenesis. Indeed, it is well established tha...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2005.09.004

    authors: Rak J

    更新日期:2006-01-01 00:00:00

  • The potential roles of cell migration and extra-cellular matrix interactions in Dupuytren's disease progression and recurrence.

    abstract::Dupuytren's disease is a pathological condition of the palmar fascia characterized by the formation of contractile disease cords that result in permanent finger contracture. This condition is believed to progress from a myofibroblast-rich nodule in the early clinical stages of the disease to a contractile disease cord...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.009

    authors: Vi L,Gan BS,O'Gorman DB

    更新日期:2010-03-01 00:00:00

  • The coordinated action of lecithin:retinol acyltransferase and cellular retinol-binding proteins for regulation of vitamin A esterification.

    abstract::Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin required for many physiological functions. The intracellular transport of vitamin A is assisted by proteins called cellular retinol-binding proteins (CRBP I/II). The absorption, storage and usage of vitamin A are regulated by a protein called lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT), ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2016.01.013

    authors: Mezaki Y,Fujimi TJ,Senoo H,Matsuura T

    更新日期:2016-03-01 00:00:00

  • Physicians, historians, and the history of medicine.

    abstract::For American medical historiography, to borrow from Dickens, these are the best of times and the worst of times. These are the times when rigorous scholarship has been brought to bear on the field (with great improvement in the quality of research) and when medicine is disappearing from its own history. These are the ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 历史文章,杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(92)90079-r

    authors: Prioreschi P

    更新日期:1992-06-01 00:00:00

  • Scientific life should be measured in seven year units.

    abstract::Traditional wisdom and empirical observation unite in recommending a 7 year unit for measuring human life - including individual and institutional science. But, because of astronomy and the decimal system, things tend to be measured either in years, five years or in decades. A year is too short while a decade is too l...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 社论

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2006.02.017

    authors: Charlton BG

    更新日期:2006-01-01 00:00:00

  • Iloprost: an adjunctive approach to chronic viral hepatitis treatment.

    abstract::Chronic viral liver disease may evolve to cirrhosis. The medical treatment to slow down this passage is based on anti-viral and anti-fibrotic properties of interferon. Recently, we evidenced significant increase of portal vein flow velocity and volume after a prostacyclin analog (iloprost) infusion in subjects without...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2004.05.017

    authors: Zardi EM,Vespasiani Gentilucci U,Picardi A,Ambrosino G,Fazio VM,Dobrina A,Afeltra A

    更新日期:2005-01-01 00:00:00