COVID-19 Delta Variant: Vitamin D and Zinc

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
The Delta variant is very contagious carrying 1000 times more viral load than the original COVID virus. The Delta variant (also referred to as B.1.617.2) of COVID-19 is a newer strain of the COVID-19 virus that appears to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. It was initially identified in India in December 2020 and was first detected in the United States in March 2021.
 
Delta Variant
Credit: Getty Images

COVID-19 Delta Variant Symptoms

The COVID-19 Delta variant may have symptoms that differ slightly from the original coronavirus strain and include:
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose
  • Fever 
Cough and loss of smell are less common with the Delta variant compared to the original coronavirus strain (Source).

Other symptoms of COVID-19 may include:
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chills
  • Muscle pain/body aches
  • Changes in or loss of sense of taste
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Congestion
  • Abdominal pain
  • Feeling unwell (malaise)
Emergency warning signs of COVID-19 that require immediate medical attention (go to a hospital’s emergency department):
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • Bluish lips or face
  • New confusion or inability to arouse

How Is the COVID-19 Delta Variant Diagnosed?

All variants of COVID-19 are diagnosed with a medical history which includes any recent known exposure to COVID-19, and a physical exam to check for symptoms of COVID-19.
If COVID-19 is suspected tests used to diagnose the virus include:
  • PCR tests (genetic or molecular test)
  • Results can take hours to up to one week
  • More accurate than an antigen test
  • Antigen test
  • Results are available in less than one hour
  • Less accurate than a PCR test
An antibody test may be used to determine if a person had a past COVID-19 infection, but it is not used to diagnose current infections because it takes up to 3 weeks following infection for the body to produce antibodies to the virus. 

Regular COVID tests do not test for variants. Testing for variants requires genomic sequencing, which not all labs can do and it can be expensive. State health departments may run tests to help determine prevalence of a particular variant in that state, but it is unlikely individual patients would learn which variant they are infected with.

Vitamin D, Zinc and FLCCC (Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care) I-MASK+ Protocol

Can Vitamin D and Zinc protect you against the Delta variant? I-MASK+ Prevention & Early Outpatient Treatment Protocol for COVID-19 was designed for use as a prevention and in early outpatient treatment, for those who test positive for COVID-19. Component nutrients include vitamin D, C, melatonin, quercetin and zinc.

All the component medicines are FDA-approved (except ivermectin), inexpensive, readily available and have been used for decades with well-established safety profiles.

IMPORTANT UPDATE TO FIGHT THE DELTA VARIANT
Once again FLCCC medical team strengthened the I-MASK+ prevention & early treatment protocol to counter the new COVID-19 variant. 


PREVENTION Protocol (for Delta variant)

Vitamin D and Zinc are part of the I-MASK+ protocol. For prevention, the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Working Group (FLCCC) I-MASK+ protocol recommends (September 24, 2021 version):

Anti-Virals & AntiSeptics
  • Gargle mouthwash: 2 x daily – gargle (do not swallow) antiseptic mouthwash with cetylpyridinium chloride (e.g. Scope mouthwash™, Crest mouthwash, Colgate mouthwash) or povidone/iodine 1 % solution as alternative (e.g. Betadine® Antiseptic Sore Throat Gargle™). 
  • lvermectin
    • Chronic Prevention: 0.2 mg/kg per dose (take with or after a meal) — twice a week for as long as disease risk is elevated in your community 
    • Post COVID-19 Exposure Prevention: 0.4 mg/kg per dose (take with or after a meal)  — one dose today, repeat after 48 hours
Immune Fortifying / Supportive Therapy
Notes:
  • High risk Individuals: > 60 years with co-morbidities (hypertension, diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease), obesity, long term care facilities, etc.
  • Post COVID-19 exposure: To use if a household member is COVID-19 positive, or you have prolonged exposure to a COVID-19 positive patient without wearing a mask.
  • Precautionary Note: Ivermectin has a number of potentially serious drug-drug interactions. Please check for potential drug interaction at Ivermectin Drug Interactions - Drugs.com. The most important drug interactions occur with cyclosporin, tacrolimus, anti-retroviral drugs, and certain anti-fungal drugs. 
  • Due to the possible drug interaction between quercetin and ivermectin (may increase ivermectin levels), these drugs should not be taken simultaneously (i.e. should be staggered morning and night). 
  • Ivermectin is also lipophilic and therefore, bioavailability is maximised on a full stomach; or best to be taken with meal.
  • Vitamin D3 RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) is 800–1000 IU/day. The safe upper-dose daily limit is likely < 4000 IU/day. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of acquiring COVID-19 and from dying from the disease. Vitamin D supplementation may therefore prove to be an effective and cheap intervention to lessen the impact of this disease, particularly in vulnerable populations, i.e. the elderly and obese.
  • It is likely that vitamin C and quercetin have synergistic prophylactic benefit. Quercetin should be used with caution in patients with hypothyroidism and TSH levels should be monitored.
  • Please consult with a qualified doctor and only use human ivermectin. Ivermectin for animals contain excipients (binding and storage compounds such as ethylene glycol) that are known to cause liver failure in high doses. 
Related: 

EARLY TREATMENT PROTOCOL

For early outpatient protocol (COVID-19 positive), the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Working Group, FLCCC I-MASK+ protocol recommends (updated September 24, 2021):

1. First line agents (use any or all medicines; listed in order of priority/importance)

Anti-Virals
  • Ivermectin: 0.4–0.6 mg/kg per dose (take with or after meals) — one dose daily, take for 5 days or until recovered. (Find a Doctor). Use upper dose range if:  1) in regions with more aggressive variants; 2) treatment started on or after day 5 of symptoms or in pulmonary phase; or 3) multiple comorbidities/risk factors.
  • and/or Nitazoxanide: 500 mg 2 x daily for 5 days after meals. Combine with ivermectin (preferred) or substitute if ivermectin is not available. (Nitazoxanide is often unavailable or high-priced in the USA)
Anti-Septic Anti-virals
  • Antiviral mouthwash: Gargle 3 x daily (do not swallow; must contain chlorhexidine,  povidone-iodine, or cetylpyridinium chloride). (e.g. Scope mouthwash™, Crest mouthwash, Colgate mouthwash, Betadine® Antiseptic Sore Throat Gargle)
  • Iodine Nasal Spray: Use 1 % povidone iodine commercial product as per instructions 2–3 x daily. If 1 %-product not available, must first dilute the more widely available 10 %-solution and apply 4–5 drops to each nose every 4 hours. (No more than 5 days in pregnancy.)
Anti-Coagulants + Immune Fortifying
  • Aspirin: 325 mg/day unless contraindicated. (Amazon)
  • Vitamin D3: 5,000 IU daily. Preferred forms if available: Calcitriol (Rocaltrol) 0.5 mcg on day 1, then 0.25 mcg daily for 7 days – or Calcifediol 0.5 mg on day 1, then 0.2 mg on days  3 + 7, then 0.2 mg weekly until recovered.
  • Melatonin: 10 mg before bedtime (causes drowsiness). (Amazon)
Adjunctive / Synergistic Therapies
  • Vitamin C: 500 - 1,000 mg BID (twice daily) (Amazon) (iHerb)
  • Quercetin: 250 mg twice a day. (Amazon) (iHerb)
  • Zinc: 100 mg/day. Zinc lozenges are preferred. (Amazon) (iHerb)
Nutritional Therapeutics (New)
  • Curcumin (turmeric) 500mg 2 x daily for 14 days (Amazon)
  • Nigella Sativa 80mg/kg daily for 14 days (Amazon)
  • Honey 1gram/kg daily for 14 days
Pulse Oximeter

FLCCC also recommend monitoring your oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter and to go to the hospital if you get below 94%. (Amazon)

2. Second line agents (listed in order of priority /importance)

Add to first line therapies above if: 
1) ≥5 days of symptoms; 
2) Poor response to therapies above; 
3) Significant comorbidities

Dual anti-androgen Therapy
  1. Spironolactone 100 mg 2 x daily for ten days
  2. Dutasteride 2 mg on day 1, followed by 1 mg daily for 10 days. If dutasteride is not available, use finasteride 10 mg daily for 10 days.
Fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine: 50 mg twice daily for 10 days. 
Consider fluoxetine (Prozac) 30mg daily for 10 days as an alternative (it is often better tolerated).
Avoid if patient is already on an SSRI.

Monoclonal antibody therapy

Casirivimab/imdevimab: 600 mg each in a single subcutaneous injection for patients with one or more risk factors as follows: Age > 65y; obesity; pregnancy; chronic lung, heart, or kidney disease; diabetes; immunosuppressed; developmental disability; chronic tracheostomy; or tube feeding.

Alternatives: 
* Not available on Amazon

Behavioral Prevention:
  • Face Masks - Must wear cloth, surgical, or N95 mask (without valve) in all indoor spaces with non-household persons. Must wear a N95 mask (without valve) during prolonged exposure to non-household persons in any confined, poorly ventilated area.
  • Social Distancing - Until the end of the COVID-19 crisis, we recommend keeping a minimum distance of approx. 2 m / 6 feet in public from people who are not from your own household.
  • Wash Hands - We recommend, after a stay during and after outings from home (shopping, sub - way etc.), a thorough hand cleaning (20–30 sec. with soap), or also to use a hand disinfectant in between.
For post-covid or long covid syndrome, check out FLCCC I-Recover Post-COVID Protocol. For a simplified version of the I-MASK+ protocol, the FLCCC has also developed the I-MASS protocol.

Key Takeaway

Treat early! As soon as you have symptoms, start treatment as early as possible. If treatment is delayed i.e. after 5 days of symptoms, your chances of severe COVID are higher.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dr Peter McCullough: How to Detox Spike Protein from Body

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Base Spike Detox According to Dr Peter McCullough (in a Twitter post): Base Spike Detox is what I am currently using in my practice for those who have had COVID-19 multiple times, one or more of the COVID-19 vaccines, or both and believe persistent SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein could be causing problems in their body.  I have arrived, based on the emerging scientific literature (1) and my clinical observation, that three OTC products are essential as a triple base combination: Nattokinase 2000 FU (100 mg) twice a day Bromelain 500 mg once a day Nano/Liposomal Curcumin 500 mg twice a day Related: Nattokinase, Bromelain and Curcumin from The Wellness Company Additional products can be added, including NAC, IVM (Ivermectin), HCQ (Hydroxychloroquine), fluvoxamine, low-dose naltrexone, and blood thinners, depending on the clinical evaluation and the syndrome. The therapeutic objectiv
Read more

Dr Peter McCullough: Povidone Iodine, Oral and Nasal Hygiene (2024)

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Dr. Peter McCullough is an internist, cardiologist, epidemiologist, a full professor of medicine at Texas A&M College of Medicine in Dallas, USA. He also has a master's degree in public health and is known for being one of the top five most-published medical researchers in the United States and is the editor of two medical journals. McCullough Protocol 2022 Updates:  Double blind randomized controlled trial of saline solution gargling and nasal rinsing in COVID infection (Nov 2023) What really killed COVID-19 patients: It wasn't a cytokine storm, suggests study  (2023) Everyone is familiar with nasal and oral swab testing for COVID-19. It should be obvious the virus is replicating in the nose, and with Omicron, the speed of replication has become much greater than the pri
Read more

Dr Peter McCullough Early Treatment Protocol

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Well-respected North Texas cardiologist, Dr. Peter McCullough has impeccable academic credentials. He's an internist, cardiologist, epidemiologist, a full professor of medicine at Texas A&M College of Medicine in Dallas. He also has a master's degree in public health and is known for being one of the top five most-published medical researchers in the United States and is the editor of two medical journals. McCullough et al. Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2020 McCullough Protocol 2022 Updates:  How to Detox Spike Protein from Body  (November 2023) Use of hydroxychloroquine in multidrug protocols for SARS-CoV-2 (October 2024) Paxlovid for Vaccinated or Unvaccinated Adult Outpatients with C
Read more

Find a Doctor to prescribe Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin and Early Outpatient Treatments (2024)

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Treatment should start based on clinical suspicion as soon as possible, preferably within the first 3 days of symptoms. Perform PCR testing, but do not withhold treatment pending results. 'Early' treatment will make significant difference in outcome as opposed to late treatment.  Related: How can I get Ivermectin? See the directory of professionals in US below. Directory of Doctors (by State) Prescribing Effective Outpatient COVID-19 Therapy USA ​ MULTIPLE STATES (Telemedicine or online consultation) The Wellness Company ( twc.health ) Medical Specialty: Family Medicine, Functional Medicine Supported Protocols: I-PREVENT (COVID Protection), I-CARE (Early at-home treatment), I-RECOVER (Long COVID and Post-Vaccine treatment) Dr. Miguel Antonatos (IVM) (855) 767-8559  https://text2md.com (States: AL, AZ, CO, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, ND, NE, NJ, NV, OK, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, WA, WI, WV)
Read more

How to Make Povidone Iodine 1% Nasal Spray (2024)

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Is povidone iodine the next ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine? Is there any evidence that povidone iodine can treat COVID-19? Iodine 1% Nasal Spray is part of the FLCCC I-CARE early treatment protocol :  Nasal spray with 1% povidone-iodine: 2-3 times a day. Do not use for more than 5 days in pregnancy. If 1% product is not available, dilute the more widely available 10% solution and apply 4-5 drops to each nostril every 4 hours. Use 1 % povidone iodine commercial product as per instructions 2–3 x daily. If 1 %-product not available, must first dilute the more widely available 10 %-solution. To make 1% povidone iodine concentrated solution from 10% povidone iodine solution, one dilution method is as follows: – First pour 1½ tablespoons (25ml) of 10% povidone/ iodine solution into a nasal irrigation bottle of
Read more

FLCCC I-Recover Protocol: Post Vaccine Treatment Protocol (2024)

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Over the last three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed almost every aspect of our lives before we've had time to stop and question it. Although no official definition exists for post-COVID-vaccine syndrome, a temporal correlation between a patient receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and beginning or worsening of clinical manifestations is sufficient to diagnose as a COVID-19 vaccine-induced injury, when the symptoms are unexplained by other concurrent causes. Dr. Paul Marik and Dr. Pierre Kory are pleased to introduce the I-RECOVER: Post-Vaccine Treatment protocol, designed to help people who have experienced adverse symptoms after a COVID vaccine. Kory and Marik are both part of the FLCCC, which was founded in 2020 to share early treatment protocols for COVID-19. Kory is an ICU specialist, triple board certified in internal medicine, critical care and pulmonary medicine. He now runs a private tele-health practice specializing in the treatment
Read more

Front Line Doctors Ivermectin Protocol for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 (2024)

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care (FLCCC) Alliance was initially formed as a working group during the early COVID-19 pandemic days in response to multiple early reports of COVID patients with an inexplicably high need for prolonged mechanical ventilation and an excessive death rate.  Based on rapidly emerging clinical trials evidence, the FLCCC team has developed the   I-MASK+ protocol   ( is now divided into I-Prevent and I-Care protocols ) for prophylaxis and at home treatment of early stage COVID-19. Quercetin, zinc and a number of nutrients and drugs are part of this protocol, not only for critical care but also for prophylaxis and mild disease being treated at home. This article, we will dive deeper to provide the scientific background, related references and rationale of the FLCCC protocols. FLCCC ( Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care)  Protocols I-MASK+ Prevention & Early Outpatient Treatment Protocol for COVID-19 was designed for use as a prevention and in early outpatien
Read more

Quercetin and Zinc: Zelenko Treatment Protocol

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
As of July 2024, more than 35 studies on the topic of zinc and COVID-19  ( c19zinc.com )  (constantly updated) and more than 10 studies on quercetin and COVID-19 have been published  ( c19quercetin.com ).  Dr. Zelenko’s main hypothesis based on the data showing that early intervention and treatment of high-risk patients with COVID-19 results in significantly few hospitalizations and deaths. This treatment regimen involving zinc, low-dose hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin (published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents ) is also apparently known as, “The Zelenko Protocol.” Quercetin and Zinc The Zelenko Covid-19 Protocols was developed by Dr Vladimir Zelenko. The protocol has as its centerpiece, but not exclusive piece, the combined use of  Hydroxychloroquine  (HCQ) and Zinc as a means by which a person can both help to prevent or mitigate the contraction of COVID-19, or can actually treat the disease once it has been diagnosed.  Quercetin is a natural antihistamine a
Read more

FLCCC I-CARE COVID Treatment Protocol for Outpatients (2024)

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Early treatment is critical and the most important factor in managing this disease. COVID-19 is a clinical diagnosis; a confirmed antigen or PCR test is not required. Treatment should be initiated immediately after the onset of flu-like symptoms. The multiple therapies and drugs in this protocol have different mechanisms of action and work synergistically during various phases of the disease. About I-CARE Protocol The information in this document is our recommended approach to COVID-19 based on the best (and most recent) literature. It is provided as guidance to healthcare providers worldwide on the early treatment of COVID-19. Patients should always consult with their provider before starting any medical treatment. New medications may be added and/or changes made to doses of existing medications as further evidence emerges. Please be sure you are using the latest version of this protocol. Warning (anesthesia and surgery): Please notify your anesthesia team if you are using the followi
Read more

America's Frontline Doctors Early Treatment Protocol and Contact a Physician

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
  SELF-HELP without a Doctor ( source ) Zinc  50 mg daily (can take half twice daily if upset stomach) Quercetin  500 mg twice a day three times a day if sick (switch to HCQ/IVM if available) Vitamin D3  40,000-50,000 for five days Melatonin  5 mg - 20 mg nightly for 14 days stomach) Pepcid  40-80 daily 14 days – women or Cimetidine 400 daily -men Full Aspirin  (325 mg) daily one month N acetyl cysteine (NAC)  Up to 2000-2400 mg 1-2 days, then 1000-1200 mg for a week Treatment: Latest Prescriptions ( source ) Monoclonal Antibodies:  outpatient, FDA approved, early treatment, within 10 days Only. Note and Update: Omicron variant XBB found to be resistant to monoclonal antibody treatments ( New England Journal of Medicine . Dec 2022) HCQ  200 mg twice a day 7 days or IVM (weight based 0.4/kg) 20-36 mg daily 2-5 days Fenofibrate (Tricor – anti-lipid)  145 mg daily (inflammatory/cytokine phase. Antioxidant) Cyproheptadine (Periactin – antihistamine)  4 mg BID for 14 days (cytokine phase) D
Read more

Labels

Show more