2025.02.03
May 8, 2020: Antioxidant Researcher Directly Answers Questions and Concerns About COVID-19
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Kojima: Good evening, everyone. We are live-streaming on this channel today. My name is Kojima, and I will be assisting as the host. Thank you for joining us.
Answering your questions today is Dr. Haruhiko Inubo. Thank you for being here, Professor Inubo.
Dr. Inubo: Thank you for having me.
Kojima: And we also have Mr. Tanaka with us. Thank you for joining us.
Tanaka: Thank you.
Kojima: Throughout this live stream, viewers can post their questions in the YouTube chat. We will try to answer them in real time. Since this is a great opportunity, please feel free to ask any medical questions you may have.
More people are joining now. We have over 10 viewers at the moment.
Tanaka: Since we have this chance, Professor, could you also share some comments on your recent video about Kawasaki disease?
Dr. Inubo: Certainly. Regarding Kawasaki disease, I actually researched it about three years ago while developing Twendee X. Kawasaki disease primarily affects young children and can cause severe long-term complications.
There are limited treatment options, but it was clear that oxidative stress plays a significant role. That led me to explore whether Twendee X could help reduce oxidative stress in these pediatric patients.
Then, reports from Spain and New York emerged, showing that many children with COVID-19 developed vasculitis, which is exactly the same mechanism as Kawasaki disease.
While the exact cause of Kawasaki disease remains unknown, it fluctuates in outbreaks, suggesting a possible viral link. Given the increase in Kawasaki-like symptoms among COVID-19 patients, I believe a viral cause is highly likely.
Kojima: I see. As a medical student, I have also observed Kawasaki disease cases in pediatric wards. I spoke with pediatricians who noted that cases sometimes surge unexpectedly, possibly due to viral infections spreading in daycare and preschools. It’s fascinating that COVID-19 is now linked to this condition.
Dr. Inubo: Yes, the fundamental issue with Kawasaki disease is systemic vasculitis. There are two theories behind this: one suggests that excessive oxidative stress damages endothelial cells in arteries, while the other attributes it to cytokine release from white blood cells, leading to inflammation.
COVID-19 likely follows the same process—oxidative stress and cytokine activity damaging the endothelium. Unfortunately, we still lack direct oxidative stress measurements in COVID-19 patients.
However, a former professor at the University of Rome, Dr. Eugenio, has been measuring hydrogen peroxide levels in blood samples. When I requested data on COVID-19 patients, he found that their oxidative stress levels were significantly elevated.
Some patients also showed an increase in antioxidant defense, suggesting the body was attempting to counteract oxidative stress. More detailed data should emerge soon.
Kojima: Many people associate COVID-19 primarily with respiratory issues. But based on your research, would you say it is more of a systemic disease?
Dr. Inubo: Yes. In a video I uploaded on March 13, I explained that interstitial pneumonia is at the core of COVID-19. Unlike bacterial infections, viral interstitial pneumonia is an allergic reaction.
This means COVID-19 is not just a lung disease—it disrupts immune balance through oxidative stress, potentially affecting multiple organs. While vasculitis is currently under discussion, oxidative stress remains the underlying cause, though this understanding has yet to be widely recognized.
Kojima: Thank you for that insight. We have a question from a viewer: “Tokyo has reported fewer than 50 new cases for three consecutive days, but I believe this is due to reduced testing during the holidays. In late March and April, cases surged as testing increased. Is this assumption incorrect?”
Dr. Inubo: To approach this from another angle, a Tokyo medical facility tested 200 people for COVID-19 antibodies, and 11% of healthcare workers and 6% of the general public tested positive.
Extrapolating this data to Tokyo’s 12 million residents suggests that around 1 million people may have already been infected. Given that PCR tests only detect 30-70% of actual cases, focusing solely on case numbers is not particularly meaningful.
Instead, we should prioritize identifying and treating pneumonia patients rather than just tracking infection numbers.
Kojima: That makes sense. The focus should be on preventing severe cases rather than just monitoring numbers. Another viewer asks about blood clots in COVID-19 patients: “If blood clots are the cause of sudden deterioration, what precautions should we take?”
Dr. Inubo: The American Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis recommends administering low-molecular-weight heparin when interstitial pneumonia is detected.
Blood clots form due to endothelial damage caused by oxidative stress and excessive cytokine release, which leads to systemic inflammation. This explains why some relatively young COVID-19 patients develop strokes without severe symptoms.
Managing oxidative stress is key to preventing these complications.
Kojima: Thank you. Let’s take one final question: “Would taking antioxidants daily help strengthen immunity?”
Dr. Inubo: Oxidative stress is produced daily through metabolism. The body normally manages this, but stress levels increase with aging and underlying conditions.
Taking antioxidants daily helps counteract this stress and is especially beneficial for older individuals and those with pre-existing conditions.
Kojima: Thank you. That concludes today’s session. Dr. Inubo, will you be hosting more of these discussions in the future?
Dr. Inubo: Yes, we plan to announce future sessions. Thank you for joining.
Kojima: Please subscribe to the channel to receive notifications for our next live stream. Thank you for watching!
※ The views expressed in this video and text reflect the personal opinions of Dr. Haruhiko Inubo, Special Appointment Professor at Gifu University’s Antioxidant Research Division, and do not represent the official stance of any affiliated institution.
