This conclusion was made by a researcher at the University of Illinois (USA) Graziano Pinna, whose article published in the journal Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism.
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Female reproductive hormones, estrogen (estradiol) and progesterone, as well as a physiologically active metabolite (metabolic product) progesterone – allopregnanolone, – have the ability to reduce inflammation, preventing the development of a deadly “cytokine storm”, reboot the immune system, stimulating the production of antibodies and repairing damaged cells of the respiratory mucosa, and blocking ACE2 receptors on the cell surface – the gateway through which the coronavirus infects the body … These properties of female sex hormones help protect women of reproductive age from severe symptoms of COVID-19, Pinna writes, analyzing already published scientific data on the topic.
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This idea of the scientist was first prompted by clinical cases described at the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2020. We are talking about pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19, who did not show any symptoms of infection, but immediately after giving birth, their condition deteriorated so much that some of them needed to be admitted to an intensive care unit. The spike in symptoms coincided with a sharp drop in estradiol, progesterone, and allopregnanolone levels in women in labor. As statistics show, pregnant women have a 15 times lower risk of dying from COVID-19 than other women.
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In addition, the protective role of female hormones may explain the difference in severity and mortality from COVID-19 between women of reproductive age and men, as well as older people of both sexes, says Pinna.
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Statistics show that men of all ages and older women who have already reached menopause carry coronavirus infection much harder, and they have a higher risk of dying from it.
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Pinna suggested that hormonal contraceptives could help improve protection against COVID-19 in women of reproductive age, and hormone replacement therapy could play a protective role in postmenopausal women, but clinical studies are required to confirm this hypothesis. In addition, a diet rich in plant phytoestrogens (soy, lentils, oatmeal) can play a positive role in the prevention of severe COVID-19 for both women and men, Pinna suggested.
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