How can you naturally support your immune system against COVID-19?

COVID-19: Understanding the Disease and Its Clinical Manifestations

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, an RNA coronavirus belonging to the Coronaviridae family. Since its emergence in 2019, it has evolved into a global pandemic with the successive emergence of variants (Alpha, Delta, Omicron, and its sublineages). Management and prevention are based on the recommendations of French health authorities (HAS, ANSM, Santé Publique France) and the WHO. Natural supplements are in no way a substitute for treatments prescribed by a doctor or for vaccination. Explore our immunity range, our respiratory health products, and our respiratory comfort formulas.

• Transmission: primarily airborne via aerosols and respiratory droplets—in inadequately ventilated indoor spaces, a single case can infect many people—the virus survives for a few hours on surfaces, but transmission through contact is secondary—FFP2 masks (protection against aerosols) are more effective than surgical masks for exposed individuals
• Common symptoms: fever or chills — dry cough — severe fatigue — dyspnea (shortness of breath) — loss of smell (anosmia) and taste (ageusia) — these last two are very characteristic of COVID-19 and rare in the flu or the common cold — headaches — muscle aches (myalgia) — sore throat — digestive issues (diarrhea, nausea)
• Distinguishing COVID-19 from the flu and the common cold: anosmia/ageusia without nasal congestion = suggestive of COVID-19 — high fever + severe, sudden-onset body aches = flu — progressive, predominant nasal symptoms = common cold — only a diagnostic test (antigen or PCR) confirms the diagnosis
• Severe cases and at-risk populations: people over 60 years of age — obesity (BMI > 30) — poorly controlled diabetes — immunosuppression — cardiovascular disease — chronic respiratory failure — severe cases: bilateral pneumonia + acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) + coagulopathy (DIC) — emergency hospitalization if SpO2 < 95% at rest
• Diagnostic tests: rapid antigen test (self-test or pharmacy test) — results in 15–30 minutes — sensitivity 80–90% if symptomatic — nasopharyngeal PCR test (gold standard, sensitivity > 95%) — serological test (antibody detection — useful for determining whether one has been infected, not for diagnosing an acute infection)

Prevention, vaccination, and protective measures

• Vaccination: the primary strategy for preventing severe disease — mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty, Moderna Spikevax) and viral vector vaccines (Janssen) — reduce the risk of severe disease and hospitalization by 70–90% (data on early variants; efficacy varies by variant) — boosters recommended according to the current vaccination schedule (visit ameli.fr for updated recommendations) — priority vaccination for at-risk individuals and healthcare workers
• Basic preventive measures: ventilation of indoor spaces (air out for 10 minutes every hour) — Wash hands for 30 seconds with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer — Wear a surgical mask (to prevent spreading the virus) or an FFP2 mask (for personal protection in high-risk settings) — Maintain a minimum physical distance of 1 meter — Self-isolate at the first sign of symptoms (minimum 72 hours with antiviral treatment, 5 days without treatment according to HAS recommendations)
• Antiviral treatments available in France (by prescription only): nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) — oral antiviral effective when administered early (< 5 days) in individuals at risk of severe disease — numerous drug interactions (check with your doctor or pharmacist) — remdesivir — inpatient treatment — monoclonal antibodies — reserved for immunocompromised individuals
• Variant monitoring: SARS-CoV-2 is constantly evolving — Santé Publique France publishes weekly epidemiological data and the prevalence of circulating variants — the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments is regularly reassessed based on viral evolution
• Isolation and protocol: Contact your primary care physician or dial 15 (SAMU) in case of breathing difficulties — call 15 immediately if SpO2 < 94% or if symptoms rapidly worsen — “My COVID Questions” (mesquestionscovid.gouv.fr) for non-urgent situations — telemedicine available if the patient’s overall condition is not critical

Micronutrients and natural support for antiviral immunity

• Vitamin D3: the micronutrient whose deficiency is most strongly associated with the severity of COVID-19 in epidemiological studies — activates macrophages + the production of antimicrobial peptides (cathelicidin) + the T-cell response—a meta-analysis (Jolliffe et al., 2021) shows a 23% reduction in respiratory infections with regular supplementation — 1,000–2,000 IU/day for prevention — the French Scientific Council had recommended correcting D3 deficiencies in at-risk individuals as early as 2020
• Zinc: inhibits the replication of many RNA viruses (including coronaviruses) in vitro — supports cytotoxic T lymphocytes and NK cells — a zinc deficiency is associated with increased severity of respiratory infections — zinc gluconate or bisglycinate 10–15 mg/day for prevention — studies have explored its use at higher doses for treatment (under medical supervision only)
• Selenium: a cofactor for glutathione peroxidases, which protect immune cells from oxidative stress generated by viral infection — several observational studies have shown an association between selenium deficiency and the severity of COVID-19 — selenomethionine 100–200 µg/day
• Quercetin: a plant-derived flavonoid — inhibits SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells (by binding to the 3CL protease) and viral replication in vitro — anti-inflammatory properties (inhibits NF-κB) — positive preliminary clinical studies in mild cases — low bioavailability (can be improved with vitamin C, which regenerates oxidized quercetin, or with phytosomes) — 500–1,000 mg/day
• Vitamin C and propolis: Vitamin C — supports neutrophils and the synthesis of damaged pulmonary collagen + regenerates quercetin — propolis — antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties in the respiratory mucosa — visit our immune defenses page for complementary approaches

Long COVID: Symptoms, Management, and Resources

• Definition of Long COVID (WHO): persistence or onset of symptoms 3 months after the initial infection, lasting at least 2 months, not explained by another diagnosis — affects 10–30% of people who have had symptomatic COVID-19 — can occur even after a mild case
• Most common symptoms: chronic, debilitating fatigue (post-exertional — worsens after physical activity) — brain fog — shortness of breath — muscle and joint pain — sleep disturbances — palpitations — persistent anosmia or parosmia — autonomic dysfunction (POTS — postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)
• Hypothetical mechanisms: viral persistence in reservoirs (intestine, brain) — immune dysregulation with chronic inflammation — reactivation of latent viruses (EBV) — autonomic dysfunction (damage to small autonomic nerve fibers) — microangiopathy (damage to microvessels)
• Management: Long COVID centers (regional university hospitals—list available at covidlongfrance.org) — multidisciplinary approach (primary care physician + physical therapist + psychologist + cardiologist, depending on symptoms) — gradual active rest — avoid overexertion (may worsen post-exertional fatigue) — magnesium + omega-3 + vitamin D3 + probiotics for support (under medical supervision) — check out our formulas for colds and flu-like symptoms
• Resources in France: covidlongfrance.org — ApresJ20 Association — SANTE.FR to find a specialist — Ameli.fr for up-to-date vaccination recommendations — 15 (SAMU) in case of acute breathing difficulties