Are people who belong to blood groups A, B or AB really more at risk than O’s when it comes to Covid-19? The answer is yes. These are not rumors, but serious information supported by scientific studies. And it’s not just about the coronavirus. The blood group also plays a role in other infections, in the development of cardiovascular problems and perhaps even in the development of other diseases.
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What are the different types of blood groups?
Blood groups correspond to molecules present on the surface of red blood cells, like “labels”, which allow the properties of blood to be defined. Note: These labels can also be found on other cells in the body, such as in saliva, the digestive tract or the respiratory system.
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There are several types of blood groups:
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- 44% of French people belong to group A,
- 42% in group 0,
- 10% to group B
- and 4% to group AB
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Knowing your blood type is essential, especially for ensure the compatibility of transfusions : we need a blood group that is not rejected by the body. This is because the body develops antibodies to defend itself against the labels of other blood groups, which it does not recognize.
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People in group “O” are more resistant to coronavirus
It is a fact, the majority of scientific work shows it: O’s have an advantage in the face of the coronavirus. “I have identified 35 studies which go in this direction”, underlines Jacques Le Pendu, researcher at Inserm. O are therefore less often affected by the virus than the A’s, the B’s or the AB’s, and they run close to half the risk of being seriously ill that the A.
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“People who belong to group O naturally have antibodies to defend themselves against the coronavirus”, explains Professor Jacques Chiaroni, a blood specialist.
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It is indeed possible that their anti-A antibodies prevent the virus from entering cells. Without this feature, the disease would undoubtedly have done more damage in its path, as Jacques Le Pendu reminds us: “Our results show that this protective effect of people in group O probably slows down the epidemic.”
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But scientists want to put the information into perspective. If their risk of infection is reduced by 13 to 30% depending on the studies, O’s are not 100% protected and they too can have Covid-19.
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Ulcer, gastro, cholera … Other infections are concerned
The blood type can also make a difference in other infections, carried by viruses or bacteria, and not always to the benefit of O! Because no, the population is not divided into strong O’s and weak A’s or AB’s. It all depends on the disease.
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Belonging to group O, for example, increases the risk of developing a stomach ulcer. “The bacteria Helicobacter pylori, which causes ulcers, binds preferentially to sugars characteristic of blood group O “, specifies Jacques Le Pendu.
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The viruses responsible for the majority of gastroenteritis also prefer O to people belonging to other blood groups, just like the cholera bacteria. “This particularity has resulted in a form of selection in certain regions of the world, reveals Professor Chiaroni. The areas where cholera has appeared are those where we find the highest rate of people from group O, and low rate of people in group B, who are less sensitive to it. “
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The blood group also impacts the risk of heart attack and stroke
On the other hand, O’s remain slightly favored with regard to cardiovascular disease, for completely different reasons. Compared to A, B or AB, their blood clots less quickly. It has no impact on a daily basis, but this feature can make a real difference on already weakened blood vessels. As the blood is more fluid, it aggregates less easily into clots likely to block an artery, reducing the risk of thrombosis, heart attack or stroke.
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Specialists believe that this could lead to adapting the doses of anticoagulant drugs according to the blood group of patients, and thus limit unnecessary intake.
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Many studies have also shown associations between blood groups and other health problems, such as digestive cancers, diabetes or even infertility.
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Is the “blood group diet” founded?
It gave rise to a bestseller in the 1990s, but the “blood types” diet actually has no serious basis. The idea of its inventor, an American naturopath, was that the blood group influence the way in which nutrients are assimilated.
Problem: a study published in early December 2020 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics completely invalidated this thesis.
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