This PDF is available to Subscribers Only View Article Abstract & Purchase OptionsAccording to the Centers for Disease Control, the Epstein Barr Virus and is classified among the most common of human viruses. With nine , chances are pretty high that you may have already contracted it. EBV is transmitted via saliva, and most people who become infected with the virus display no symptoms. Despite the fact that an EBV infection is more or less the norm, it is not among the viruses that most people recognize by name. EBV is a member of the herpes virus family and is also referred to as human herpesvirus 4. Discussion about EBV typically revolves around mononucleosis (commonly known as “mono”), a contagious disease associated with periods of fatigue lasting weeks. EBV is one of the viruses known to cause mono and most literature presents the EBV infection as being synonymous with contracting mono. Children who become infected by EBV are less likely to present any symptomatic response.
When symptoms are present, they are often indistinguishable from other childhood maladies. Teenagers and adults are more likely to manifest symptoms in the form of mono with (with a longer period of associated fatigue). Once an EBV infection has run its course, the virus becomes latent and remains within the body in perpetuity. Meaning: once infected, that virus is always in your system. Prevention of the EBV infection requires the unlikely scenario of avoiding kissing, sharing drinks and food, and utilizing items that may have come into contact with saliva. There is no EBV vaccination and the ease of transmission elevates the risk of infection, making it nearly inevitable for us all.B Cells are that mature into plasma cells or memory B cells. These cells are responsive to a particular type of antigen dependent on the antibody that stimulated their creation. Once positioned within B cells, EBV makes changes within both the body’s genome and its own viral genome , fueling its prolific propagation.
Aside from its connection with mono, EBV is an important virus to understand, given its larger health implications. In some individuals, EBV can create long-term issues with chronic fatigue associated with sustained activation of the virus. by creating persistent stressors within the body’s immune system. These stressors create increased opportunity for the initiation of autoimmune diseases and aid in the progression of other diseases. Most alarming is EBV’s association with cancer. The relationship between EBV and cancer can be simplified by understanding that EBV disrupts the . EBV creates conditions that inhibit the body from identifying and eliminating the virus. Simultaneously, EBV ensures its own survival through aggressive replication through cell division. , an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at Boston University’s School of Medicine highlights, “.” In a fundamental sense, the presence of EBV in the body creates a perfect storm of unchecked cell division that exploits the probability of cancerous cell formation and replication.
Nina Mikirova, , and Ron Hunninghake, , have investigated . Their investigation stems from observations in previous studies that patients with viral infections are prone to vitamin C deficiency. Additionally, patients impacted with infections of other viruses have experienced improved recovery after receiving pharmacological doses of vitamin C. Over the counter vitamin C supplements, such as oral pills or the popular Emergen-C drink powder, offer 500 milligram to 1 gram of vitamin C per dose. The doses studied by Mikirova and Hunninghake range from 7.5 to 50 grams and are administered through intravenous infusions. The efficacy of such high doses has been “.” The efficacy of vitamin C in the treatment of viral infections involves multiple biochemical processes, which aid in autoimmune response,reducing favorable conditions for viral replication. Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties and work to detoxify and neutralize the reactive oxygen produced through the infection.
Vitamin C also works to stimulate the body’s production of anti-viral cytokines () and interferon (). During the study, researchers found that patients treated with the high doses of vitamin C realized reductions in viral activity as measured through reduction in the presence of EBV antibodies. The study also documented other important factors related to high dosage vitamin C treatment. Patients who began treatment showed antibody reduction only to realize a rebound in antigen loads once treatment was paused. Resumption of treatment again showed antibody reduction. This treatment induced fluctuation, demonstrating that sustained treatment is a factor in maximizing its efficacy. In addition, the study found that those who were experiencing higher EBV infection burdens (as measured through higher antibody concentrations) required a longer period of treatment in order to overcome the vitamin C depletion created by the virus. This and its potential to wreak long-term havoc on the body.
The researchers noted that their study is thought to be the first study conducted in a clinical environment assessing the role of vitamin C in the body’s response to EBV. Additionally, while vitamin C was the focal point of the study, researchers also found similar correlations between vitamin D and EBV regulation. However, the role of vitamin D in EBV was not fully explored during the study given that it was not administered under any regulated or controlled conditions. Given the study demonstrated a positive correlation between vitamin C and EBV activity reduction, it creates an important foundation for understanding how vitamin C could be utilized as a tool in combating EBV infection. While the study focused solely on intravenous administration of vitamin C, there is discussion that similar effects can be . Individuals utilizing high dose intakes should seek the advice of the physician. The exact dosage for non-intravenous, high dose vitamin C can be determined by . Simply put, vitamin C is taken in escalating doses until it causes symptoms of diarrhea appear (revealing the bowel tolerance for vitamin C).