by Daniel Brouse
November 2023 – March 2024
In February of 2020, I contracted SARS-CoV-2. Then, I continued to experience long-term complications and chronic conditions. The article Long COVID Update: 3 Years of Living With It describes the symptoms and the knowledge gained from the experience.
Now I am approaching 4 years and continue to get asked for help by others. Here is what I have learned:
Long-COVID has pretty much been classified into three categories — complications from the infection, persistent virus (chronic infection), and epigenetic changes. Complications from infection are lifelong chronic conditions most often seen in the lungs and respiratory system. Persistent virus can sometimes be cured with post-infection vaccination. Epigenetic changes can sometimes be reversed but many times they cannot. It is likely some epigenetic changes can become genetic changes that may be passed on to future generations (similar to cigarette smoking.)
The most significant research has found that defects in iron homeostasis (low iron), dysregulated erythropoiesis, and immune dysfunction (prolonged elevation of cytokines) resulting from COVID-19 may contribute to inefficient oxygen transport, inflammatory imbalances, and persistent symptoms. The information on autoimmune diseases emphasizes that an excessive release of cytokines, which are signaling molecules involved in immune responses, can lead to an exaggerated inflammatory response. This heightened inflammation has the potential to damage tissues and contribute to autoimmune diseases, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells.
Overview
1) The virus itself can cause death and long term organ damage. Millions and millions of people have died from COVID. Many millions more have become permanently disabled.
2) SARS-CoV-2 can be a persistent virus (chronic infection) that continues to live and destroy your organs for months or years after the initial infection. COVID may also leave residual SARS-CoV-2 protein that is associated with long COVID. A persistent virus behaves in various ways. With Chicken Pox, it leads to Shingles. With Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), it leads to Mononucleosis and Multiple Sclerosis. Epstein-Barr is a member of the herpesvirus family. Many people are already familiar with the persistent nature of herpes viruses, such as, cold sores and genital herpes. HIV is another example of a persistent virus. COVID acts like an accelerant to aging and has been found to impact the function of multiple organs including the kidneys, heart, and brain.
3) Post-COVID individuals have a compromised immune system (immunocompromised), as well as, increased risk of autoimmune diseases. There are also locally disturbed immune responses caused by mental and/or physical exertion in patients with long-COVID.
4) SARS-CoV-2 causes genetic and epigenetic changes to your DNA. These changes include long term compromising of the immune system, increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, as well as, damaging the neurological, circulatory, and cardiovascular systems. Any ailments for which you are predisposed will likely be elevated to the next stage (eg prediabetic –> diabetic).
5) Long-COVID is likely a combination of persistent virus, residual SARS-CoV-2 protein, epigenetic and genetic changes that may last indefinitely.
6) COVID reinfection further increases risks of death, hospitalization and damage to multiple organ systems and exacerbates underlying conditions including pulmonary, cardiovascular, hematological, diabetes, gastrointestinal, kidney, mental health, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders.
Niacin (nicotinic acid), zinc, and vitamin D are highly recommended to help reduce the severity of long term complications. I take take 25-50mg of niacin with each meal. Niacin does not stay in the bloodstream for more than a couple hours. Taking large doses once a day is not nearly as effective as taking small doses throughout the day. I crush zinc and allow it to linger in the mouth as it is better absorbed that way. Zinc lozenges are an alternative. Vitamin D is best obtained through a combination of a once-a-day supplement and limited exposure to sunlight. I radically changed my diet to enhance NAD+ production.
The increase in excess deaths and long-term amplification of genetic conditions indicates most COVID complications cannot be cured. Unfortunately, this means a shorter life-expectancy as well as a diminished quality of life. On October 26, 2023, Insurance News Network reported, “Excess mortality is the difference between the total number of deaths for a specific time period and the number that would have been expected. The numbers were naturally forecast to climb during the pandemic, but some industry and health authorities are concerned the rates haven’t greatly diminished as COVID infection rates have declined.”
Personally, it forever messed with my blood pressure, lipid profile, hepatic function panel, A1C, and others.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The reason I am aware of my condition is because I am actively researching long-COVID and am aggressively pursuing medical testing. If you had COVID, there is a 99% chance that you, too, have chronic conditions. SARS-CoV-2 causes genetic and epigenetic changes to your DNA. These changes include long-term compromising of the immune system, increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, as well as, damaging the neurological, circulatory, and cardiovascular systems. Any ailments for which you are predisposed will likely be elevated to the next stage. See your doctor. Get all the tests you can especially blood work. If you have a family history of inherited genetic disorders, seek counsel from your physician. Many of the epigenetic changes are undetected for a year or two after infection; however, the sooner treatment is started, the better. Medications, diet, and other lifestyle changes can help treat the conditions, improve your quality of life, and increase your life expectancy.
High levels of cardiovascular issues have occurred in youth. We do not know why COVID causes this problem; however, it appears NAD+ is another common factor in the youth (in effect causing them to age faster/shortening life expectancy.) We don’t know if the two are related. Niacin is recommended to help stabilize NAD+.
Niacin is crucial to NAD+. COVID hijacks the precursors that create NAD+. Niacin is a substitute. Niacin does not cure the cause but it does treat the symptoms. At my worst symptoms, I was taking 500mg/day. After the vaccines were invented and I was vaccinated, most of my “long-COVID” symptoms (brain-fog, fatigue, inflammation, etc) subsided. Vaccination appears to have cured the persistent virus part of the disease. Several studies have shown post-infection vaccination treats persistent infection and “covid-19 vaccines might have protective and therapeutic effects on long-covid.” The epigenetic changes still persist, though. Now, I take 50mg/day to help my naturally aging NAD+. The most important part of the Niacin protocol is that you are really taking Niacin — nicotinic acid — NOT no-flush Niacin. If you are deficient in Niacin, you will flush. This will help you know you are taking the right supplement. Flushing is normal and will not harm you; nevertheless, you may want to start with a small dose to mentally prepare. The paper COVID, Vitamin B3 (Nicotinic Acid), and the Immune System helps explain Niacin in more detail.
Did you know that milk does not naturally contain vitamin D? How about that Niacin is added to breakfast cereals? This is because most Americans main source of vitamin D3 and Niacin (vitamin B3) is through their “fortified” breakfast foods. Chances are large you are starting deficient in D and Niacin. Both of these slow the aging process and help prevent diseases. Talk to your doctor about taking supplements.
Summary
Vaccinations may help treat the persistent virus and the residual SARS protein parts of long-COVID. In my case, that is what happened. Vaccination helped treat my “long-COVID symptoms” (fatigue, brain fog, lack of taste); however, I still have the genetic changes that increased my blood pressure and caused my blood labs to spike. Most people do not know that they have these genetic changes. Almost everybody that has had COVID has some form of long-COVID they just don’t know it. The problem appears to be worse in females (believed to be due to hormones.) Almost everybody has a compromised immune system that has had COVID.
10% of excess deaths are attributed to COVID. The other 90% are from COVID’s silent killers. Everyone that has had COVID is likely to have a diminished quality of life and a premature death. As Dr. Rob Wüst says, “There is something inside the body going wrong with the disease.”
Among the many epigenetic changes made by COVID is the down regulating of NAD+ and the hijacking of tryptophan resulting in physical and mental illnesses. Most individuals become deficient in
niacin (nicotinic acid), zinc, and vitamin D. It is likely that COVID causes epigenetic changes to predisposed conditions, so treatments will vary widely depending on your genes.
What is the call to action here? Just don’t get it? Or something else?
Yes. Both. Certainly avoid getting it at all costs. Do not get it multiple times. The virus works opposite of the typical virus where the immune system gains immunity strength fighting the infection. COVID compromises your immune system. Most people develop a form of autoimmune disease. Second, and just as important, is to start treatment ASAP. The virus WILL cause epigenetic changes to your genes triggering predisposed genes. For examples, I have seen people develop an iron deficiency likely because they were predisposed to iron-deficiency anemia. I have seen people develop pernicious anemia likely because they were predisposed to a B12 deficiency. I have seen people develop breast cancer that did have the breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) genes. People with a family history of cardiovascular conditions have had to double their medications. Several have suffered strokes or heart attacks. Quite a few people I know have turned pre-diabetic while other pre-diabetics have become diabetic. THE EARLIER YOUR INDIVIDUAL CONDITIONS ARE TREATED THE BETTER. Review your family health history. Get a medical physical. Insist on blood labs that include B12 and D. Change your diet as if you were diagnosed with cancer, cardiovascular conditions, high cholesterol, and diabetes. If you feel excess fatigue or brain fog after physical or mental exertion, stop that routine.
New Health Concern
COVID compromises your immune system. Now, I am seeing people having difficulty fighting the common cold and other typical illnesses. Often they are coming down with symptoms that last for weeks. Unfortunately, this is allowing weaker viruses to mutate in their body and become more efficient. At the same time, their immune systems are becoming weaker. A vicious downward health cycle for the planet. Perhaps you should be wearing a mask if you’ve had COVID in the past? After all, you are immunocompromised.
FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS:
1. Is that the original vitamin stack (niacin plus) still the same or have you all updated it?
2. Is it for everyone who has had COVID or just if symptoms of long-COVID?
3. They comment about excess fatigue. Where are you going with that? Does post-COVID fatigue have a treatment?
1) I take take 25-50mg of niacin with each meal. Niacin does not stay in the bloodstream for more than a couple hours. Taking large doses once a day is not nearly as effective as taking small doses throughout the day. I crush 5mg of zinc twice-a-day and allow it to linger in the mouth as it is better absorbed that way. Zinc lozenges are an alternative. Vitamin D is best obtained through a combination of a once-a-day supplement and limited exposure to sunlight. I radically changed my diet to enhance NAD+ production.
2) Everyone who has had COVID. The symptoms of long-COVID are only about 1/3 of the disease. 2/3 of the disease are the “silent killers” and show no symptoms. 99% of people that have had COVID have genetic changes with negative health consequences.
3) My fatigue was part of the 1/3 of the disease with symptoms. In my case, it was being caused by persistent virus. Similar to HIV, COVID can covertly live and thrive undetected. Once I killed the persistent virus (by getting vaccinated), the chronic fatigue and brain fog were cured. However, all my epigenetic changes remain i.e. the silent killers e.g. elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, liver enzymes, etc.
