We regularly answer frequently asked questions about the coronavirus. If you have a question you'd like us to consider for a future post, email us atMy husband is immuno-compromised. He scours the internet for products that can protect him against COVID – from mouthwashes to supplements. Is there any evidence that any of these products work?
"People, especially immunocompromised people, have a desire to take control of their health, particularly in the context of COVID," says, an immunologist and executive director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation who has studied the effectiveness of supplements."The wellness industry kind of exploits that."
"I'm not aware of any supplements that are available over the counter, herbal or otherwise, that are associated with a reduction of either the risk of acquisition of infection or a severe infection," says While multivitamins likely don't pose much risk, non-standard supplements, like proprietary herbal blends, can be more problematic. Herbal blends often contain long lists of ingredients of dubious origin and can sometimes get contaminated.
So far, the sprays seem relatively safe, though they've not been approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration. Several other countries, including Israel, India and Germany, have approved SaNOtize's nitric oxide spray, called Enovid, which isn't available on pharmacy shelves in the U.S. but can be purchased online.COVID infections can also start in the mouth.