The ZRT Laboratory Blog

In a previous four-part series, we examined some of the main issues associated with long COVID, focusing on the central nervous system, ongoing inflammation and autoimmunity, mitochondrial dysregulation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. While the science regarding these topics is still evolving, taking a closer look at the effects of long COVID on epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol will provide some insight regarding the toll that COVID can take on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the HPA axis.…

Tags: Covid19, Cortisol, catecholamines

Read this article

SARS-CoV-2 has been circulating in the global population for over a year. According to Worldometer, at the time of this writing on March 2, 2021, 115 million people have been infected with the virus, 2.5 million have died, and 90 million have survived the infection to go on to have possible immunity. The immune response to the virus can range from asymptomatic to severe illness and death and has aroused fear and uncertainty around the world. For those who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and survived, some experience prolonged symptoms beyond recovery from the acute illness. Long COVID presents with ongoing symptoms of fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), sleep issues, headaches, brain fog, cognitive issues, depression, anxiety, musculoskeletal pain, respiratory distress, and muscle weakness that extends far beyond initial recovery.…

Tags: Covid19, Brain Health, Neurotransmitters

Read this article

In the final part of this 3-part blog series on important nutrients in the fight against viral illness following on from part 1 discussing quercetin and part 2 discussing zinc, we will look at the role of vitamin C, which has been used to prevent and treat viral infections since Linus Pauling, PhD endorsed its benefits decades ago.…

Tags: Covid19, Immune System, Vitamin C

Read this article

Following on from part 1 of this 3-part blog series discussing 3 important nutrients that can enhance our immune function against viral infection as well as regulate the inflammatory response to COVID-19, this second part of the series discusses the essential mineral zinc.…

Tags: Covid19

Read this article

The use of natural and alternative therapies for the prevention and treatment of viral infections focuses on key nutrients that inhibit viral entry, reduce viral replication and balance the inflammatory reaction to infection.…

Tags: Covid19

Read this article

The Italian magazine Evolutamente recently published a well-researched article exploring the link between melatonin and COVID-19, pneumonia and inflammation. It’s a compelling article so let’s take a look at the key argument and see why melatonin could be so important.Melatonin and HealthMelatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland during the hours of darkness to usher the initiation of…

Tags: Immune System, Melatonin, Covid19

Read this article

For the past 4 weeks, each morning for me starts with a cup of coffee and a side of news about the global health pandemic in which we’re living. Invading our world rapidly, forcing everything to look different today compared to just a month ago, COVID-19 has everyone on high alert! Throughout the rest of my day, I allow myself to be interrupted by articles about the virus, nurturing the feelings…

Tags: Adrenal and Cortisol, Androgen, Cortisol, Covid19, Estrogen, Hormone Testing, Hormone Balance, Immune System, Selenium, Stress, Zinc, Vitamin D

Read this article

In today’s scary world of rapidly spreading COVID-19 infections, most individuals are hesitant to have their health care provider, or worse, a stranger at a blood draw clinic, violate their mandated social space of 6 feet to allow them to stick a needle in their vein and draw blood for testing hormones. It is understandable why during the…

Tags: Blood Spot Testing, Cardiovascular Disease, Covid19, Hormone Testing, Heavy Metals, Vitamin D, Thyroid Health, Research, Menopause, Laboratory Quality

Read this article

If there is anything the United States is lacking in the war against the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is the mass testing required to detect the virus in those with suspected cases and in asymptomatic individuals. In February the Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency, which allowed for “emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).”…

Tags: Blood Spot Testing, Dried Urine Testing, Laboratory Quality, Serum Testing, ZRT Laboratory, Test Validation, Covid19

Read this article