A warning about ACE-Inhibitors (a prescription blood pressure medicine) and Coronavirus

12.03.20 07:40 PM By Jon

The guidance now is that folks should consider switching off their ACE-inhibitors  to an alternative.

ACE Inhibitors (i.e. LOSARTAN and LISINOPRIL)  are a class of drugs used to lower blood pressure.  Unfortunately, they come at a cost.  ACE-inhibitor use leads to an elevation of ACE2 in the tissues that present it, especially the heart.   They can increase ACE2 as much as 5-times! 


Novel Coronavirus uses ACE2 as the entry mechanism, and so these individuals have increased susceptibility and worsened symptoms. 

"Top Doctor In Wuhan Says High Blood Pressure A Major Risk": half of the folks with complications had this condition.

The Lancet just published a warning against Ibuprofen, ACE Inhibitors, and anything that would increase ACE2 expression. 

In an urgent letter published in the British Medical Journal on February 28th, they author poses the question about the link between hypertension, ACE inhibitors, and Viral pneumonia. 


"The question is, does there exist a connection between the use of these drugs and severe sequela of Covid-19? While the epidemiological association has not been investigated yet, several indicators underline the hypothesis of the link between ACE inhibitors and Covid-19:


On the one hand, it has been shown that the Covid-19 agent (also known as SARS-CoV-2), uses the SARS-COV receptor angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) 2 for entry into target cells [4]. The interface between ACE2 and the viral spike protein SARS-S has been elucidated and the efficiency of ACE2 usage was found to be a key determinant of SARS-CoV transmissibility [4].

On the other hand, it could be shown in animal experiments that both the ACE-inhibitor lisinopril and the angiotensin-receptor blocker losartan can significantly increase mRNA expression of cardiac ACE2 (5-fold and 3-fold, respectively) [5]. Further, losartan also significantly increases cardiac ACE2 activity [5].

Is a link between these observations possible? Is the expression of ACE2 receptor in the virus targeted cells increased by the use of ACE-inhibitor/angiotensin-receptor blocker and is the patient therefore more at risk for a severe course? We need rapid epidemiological and preclinical studies to clarify this relationship. If this were the case, we might be able to reduce the risk of fatal Covid-19 courses in many patients by temporarily replacing these drugs."


There are natural "ACE Inhibitors" that shouldn't cause an increase in ACE2 nearly as much.  (evidence-based source)

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Garlic
Seaweed (wakame, etc.)
Tuna protein/muscle
Sardine protein/muscle
Hawthorne berry
Bonito fish (dried)
Pycnogenol
Casein
Hydrolyzed whey protein
Sour milk and milk peptides
Gelatin
Sake
Omega-3 fatty acids
Chicken egg yolks
Zein
Dried salted fish
Fish sauce
Zinc
Melatonin
Pomegranate

Not on the list above but worth a mention: I take Hawthorne berry.  It lowers blood pressure gently, and protects the vessels and cardiac muscles from oxidative damage.  It's also a mild ACE inhibitor.