Antioxidant Nutraceuticals: Their Adjunct Role in the Management of COVID-19 Infections and Post-COVID Syndrome

The COVID-19 epidemic in recent years has been produced by various coronavirus strains that nearly destroyed world health policies and economics. Emerging viral strains exacerbated the pandemic. Huge investments have been made in preventative vaccines to combat the disease, but the genetic instability of these viruses has hampered their usefulness. However, in addition to traditional therapeutic approaches, nutraceuticals have been considered efficacious in preventing and or treating COVID-19 and post-COVID syndrome. In this context, nutraceuticals such as vitamins or dietary supplements including multiple vitamins and minerals and propolis have been widely studied for their significant impact on viral respiratory diseases like SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Some of these nutraceuticals having antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and immune-modulatory properties have been highly recommended for use as an adjunct option to moderate the adverse effects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review, we intend to present the recent understanding and converse scientific implications for the use of nutraceutical antioxidants such as vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and polyphenols like bee propolis, in the management of viral respiratory diseases and post-COVID-19 syndrome. Future challenges and limitations regarding the use and bioavailability of these ingredients, and dose-response studies are further emphasized.