Thread by @alan2102z

#Riboflavin (#vitamin B2) versus #covid19?

A series of molecular docking studies (modeling of biological actions by computer) indicate that plain old cheap old perfectly-safe old RIBOFLAVIN inhibits critical #SARS_CoV2 #proteases -- thus acting as potential #antiviral compound.

By analogy: viral protease inhibitors are the basis of anti-#HIV #ART (anti-retroviral therapy) - drugs used widely to maintain disease-free, #AIDS-free life, albeit at a cost: $25-50K per year. Plus headache, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, and a dozen other crappy side effects.

Riboflavin, if it proves to be effective in humans, or even if it doesn't, would cost perhaps $25 (twenty five, not 25 thousand) per year, with no headaches, nausea or the rest of that rot. Just so you know.
There is only slight chance that the definitive human studies will be

done on it, and even if those studies are done and show clear efficacy, there is zero chance that it will be widely embraced and applied. No money, no status, etc. Clear evidence will be ignored. That's just the way of our world now.

Meanwhile, if you wanted to treat yourself with riboflavin, on the assumption that it MIGHT fundamentally block Sars-Cov-2, you could do so cheaply and safely. Not that I would ever ever EVER suggest that you engage in the pernicious and deplorable practice of self-medication. 🙃

With that intro, here are the papers:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35194243/
"[some compounds] are quite unstable in binding to SARS-CoV-2 main protease, while riboflavin is comparatively rigid.... Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) could be interesting for the antiviral treatment of COVID-19."

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35578055/
"The study identified folic acid, benfotiamine, vitamin B12...and riboflavin" as "strong and stable" binders at critical sites. "These safe and cheap vitamins...could be valuable drugs for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host and replication."

(Item above mentions benfotiamine and fursultiamine -- both being fat-soluble forms of thiamine, vitamin B1. They are like "super-B1" in many respects. High-dose B1, preferably but not necessarily fat-soluble, is essential in any case to ameliorate neurological fallout of covid.)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34601658/
"we identified amprenavir, cefoperazone, riboflavin, diosmin, nadide and troxerutin...as COVID-19 main protease inhibitors, [forming] a remarkable number of non-covalent interactions."

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32866780/
"Conclusion: We identified... riboflavin, fenoterol, cangrelor and vidarabine as possible agents for repurposing as inhibitors of S1:ACE2 interaction... [and] safe and effective inhibition of S1:ACE2 mediated entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the host cell."

Riboflavin, described as a "Potent Neuroprotective Vitamin", is also being studied for activity against other families of viruses, suggesting non-specific anti-viral activity. New Sars-Cov2 variants? Influenza A? Others? We don't know, but maybe.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35889050/

But wait! There's more!
Riboflavin may be a *general* antimicrobial agent, not limited to viruses!
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35199072/
"riboflavin can inhibit or inactivate the growth of different pathogens including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites"

And: anti-influenza activity mediated through microbiome effects:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35722312/

I began digging in to all this riboflavin literature after @localrachel brought the following item to my attention:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14977995/
... which indicates yet another way in which riboflavin could relate to covid, sepsis being a pre-mortal syndrome of severe infection.

Warm thanks to @localrachel for this extremely valuable and novel tip. You should follow her. She is your Magnesium Connection. (Though I can be pretty good runner-up in that department.)

Other items by same group on riboflavin in sepsis and related:
PMID: 15189780
PMID: 15178375
PMID: 20430062
PMID: 16112685
Last one in particular emphasizes anti-inflammatory cytokine effects -- highly relevant to severe covid.

Remember: your doctor will never prescribe riboflavin, no matter how effective it is -- for several reasons, not least that he/she will never know about it. It is strictly a DIY affair.

And the #zerocovid/covidian crowd will never mention it, just as they never mention ANYTHING except masks, vaccines and air filters.

PS: related (and note up thread that B12 was identified as protease inhibitor as well):

https://twitter.com/alan2102z/status/1569804733644435456