When an Infectious Virus Collides with the World’s Most Prevalent Health Condition

Life as the world knew it changed drastically on March 11, 2020, when the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. But COVID-19 has served to shine a spotlight on a global pandemic that has been on the rise for decades. The pandemic known as metabolic syndrome is the simultaneous diagnosis of two or more diseases, or comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. When those with compromised immune systems are exposed to a highly infectious viral illness, the result is what is seen today. Metabolic syndrome is not technically a disease, it is a state of chronic inflammation and lowered resilience to disease that compromises the immune system.

As of mid-June 2020, approximately eight million cases of COVID-19 were confirmed globally, with 440,000 deaths reported. Daily numbers of new cases have provided real-time data, giving researchers the unique opportunity to track the history of infection. It quickly became clear that those with metabolic syndrome were more susceptible to the virus.

COVID-19 can impact the function of many critical organ systems, including respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, renal, and liver performance. What do all of these body systems have in common? They are all associated with immune system function. It is well documented that inflammation hinders the immune system and those with metabolic syndrome suffer from chronic inflammation.

Researchers have been studying metabolic syndrome for decades, and COVID-19 has made the condition impossible to ignore any longer.

When researchers took a closer look at the spike-like proteins on the surface of the COVID-19 virus, they found that the spikes had many furin binding sites. Furin is an enzyme in human blood that activates specific proteins. Researchers found that the COVID-19 virus is able to attach to furin and hijack them by binding to receptors in order to penetrate cells. Why is this so important to understand? The immune system and inflammation greatly influence the regulation of furin levels in the blood. In fact, when cholesterol is elevated, furin is more vulnerable to being hijacked by the virus. The stronger the immune system, the better the chances of warding off the virus.

Studies reveal that comorbidities are caused by a combination of individual genetics, lifestyle, environment, diet, and the social conditions that influence health status. Using food as medicine to implement healthy changes can improve the immune system and allow the body to heal. Vegetables and fruits have nutrients called phytochemicals that play important dietary roles in reducing the comorbidities associated with metabolic syndrome. Certain phytochemicals have even been found to bind to receptors on COVID-19 to help protect the body. Studies also show that improved physical fitness, reduction in body fat, and better quality of sleep can boost immunity and reduce the severity of viral infections like COVID-19.

Researchers have been studying metabolic syndrome for decades, and COVID-19 has made the condition impossible to ignore any longer. Healthcare providers and patients have the knowledge needed to foster healing and good health through lifestyle. Implementing this knowledge into treatment and support will require significant changes in how healthcare is structured and funded.