- The researchers found that people who suffer from acid reflux and Barrett’s esophagus are at risk of contracting the new coronavirus in an unusual way through food.
- People suffering from Barrett’s esophagus develop intestinal cells in the esophagus after prolonged acid reflux. These cells have receptors that can bind to the coronavirus.
- However, there is no evidence that people suffering from Barrett have higher rates of contraction of COVID-19 or are at greater risk than anyone else. However, more research is needed to determine the real risk of infection in this category of patients.
More than a year has passed since the first infection with the new coronavirus was confirmed, so most people should know how the virus spreads. Droplets and aerosols generated by coughing, sneezing and speech can spread through the air and enter other people’s upper airways. The virus manages to enter the nose, mouth or eyes and begins to spread to local cells. Eventually it reaches the lungs, which is where it causes the most damage.
That is why face masks, social distance, hand washing and adequate ventilation of internal spaces are recommended. There is also a risk of infection when touching contaminated surfaces, although droplets and aerosols are primarily responsible for the infection. But researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis raise the hypothesis that some people may be at risk of infection in an unusual way: by eating food.
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In the early days of the pandemic, we learned that food does not spread COVID-19. The virus binds to ACE2 receptors in the nose and lungs, but not in the digestive tract. Stomach acid can destroy particles that may be present in food. Cooking food also destroys the virus. Health experts still advise people to wash their hands frequently when handling food brought home before preparing meals or handling deliveries. In the months that followed, health officials, including the WHO, further emphasized the idea that transmission via food packaging is unlikely.
Researchers in St. Louis found something that does not apply to everyone who may be exposed to the virus. They studied patients suffering from a condition called Barrett’s esophagus and developed esophageal cells that can bind to the new coronavirus.
Acidic (or gastric) reflux can cause long-term damage to the esophagus, including changes in cells that begin to resemble intestinal cells. These cells come with ACE2 receptors, so the virus can attach to them as it passes through the esophagus.
“There is still no evidence that people with Barrett’s esophagus have higher rates of COVID-19 or are at greater risk, but part of the reason is because it has not been studied,” said Dr. Jason C. Mills in a statement . “Now that we connect these points, it may be worth looking at and seeing if people with Barrett have higher rates of infection.”
People who suffer from Barrett’s esophagus routinely take a type of medicine called proton pump inhibitors to suppress acid secretions. As a result, the acidity of the stomach is reduced, which can have another side effect. More viruses can pass through the stomach and bind to receptors in the intestine.
About one in five people in the United States suffer from gastric reflux, but that does not mean that everyone is at risk of contracting the food virus. Researchers have shown through laboratory experiments that the virus can bind to modified cells in the esophagus, but that is not proof that it is actually happening in real life. It is also unclear what would happen if a person suffering from Barrett contracted the virus only through food, but not through the airways.
However, the researchers point out that if a person already has low levels of the virus in the respiratory tract, he may swallow secretions containing the virus, which would bind to anomalous cells in the lower esophagus. This can make them sicker, but these are all speculations that need further research. What scientists have proved so far is that the virus can actually bind to Barrett’s disease esophageal cells
Many patients with COVID-19 develop gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain and diarrhea. But it is not clear whether Barrett’s disease could impact these symptoms or increase the severity of COVID-19.
“The concern would be that, particularly for Barrett’s patients, there may even be a susceptibility to infection from foods containing viral particles,” said Mills. “This study provides data that indicates that we need to take a closer look to investigate whether a substantial part of the population may be susceptible to infection through what they swallow.”
Chris Smith started writing about gadgets as a hobby and, before he knew it, was sharing his views on technology with readers around the world. Whenever he’s not writing about gadgets, he miserably fails to stay away from them, although he tries desperately. But this is not necessarily a bad thing.