Today (November 17, 2022) Dr. Anan Chongkaewwatana, Director of Animal Health Management and Innovation Research Group National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotech) reveals through personal Facebook people infected with COVID. Many people suffer from anorexia and inability to eat, this condition is actually a natural response to infections. which may be good for the body The study was published in the journal Nature last July. A research group in Germany found that The body responds to infection with anorexia. Change the energy system of the body from the use of sugar. to generate energy It is instead the use of energy reserves in the liver.
The energy store is the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), which the body converts from fatty acids in the liver for use as an energy source. In a fasted state or carbohydrate-free food sources, such as the keto diet. which some of you may prefer to eat to control your weight
The research team found People with severe COVID symptoms produce less BHB in their bodies than usual. The energy source of those patients depends on sugar. or mainly carbohydrates But the condition of the COVID infection causing abnormal sugar metabolism in these patients Especially in the T cell white blood cells which should receive essential amino acids from the above energy sources to create protein to cope with the infection. or increase their numbers to be ready in an infectious state The research team has found COVID patients have insufficiently functioning T cells, which can directly contribute to severe symptoms of COVID. Simply put, T cells are out of balance using carbohydrates as an energy source.
The research team found that instead of using sugar as an energy source, the body uses BHB, a mechanism that metabolizes BHB to increase the production of amino acids. Increase the performance efficiency of T cells, which can clear the virus from the body faster. The research team found feeding young infected mice a keto diet was able to help the mice resist infection better than the experimental group, suggesting that BHB may have antiviral properties.
The research team concluded that BHB could be one of the important targets that could be considered to help treat COVID patients. especially those with severe symptoms For those with anorexia and not wanting to eat anything It could be a mechanism by which the body wants to take advantage of the accumulated BHB, or if following a low-carb diet during recovery can help you recover faster .
