As many COVID-19 patients in the country are experiencing gastrointestinal (GI)-related symptoms in the second wave, which is now more lethal, health experts have emphasised that consumption of natural antioxidants might help fight the new GI symptoms.

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The experts say that natural antioxidant like gamma oryzanol, which is derived from rice bran, has multiple health and GI benefits. According to Anil Arora, Chairman, Institute of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pancreatobiliary Sciences, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, supplementing a nutritious diet with gamma oryzanol may improve gastritis symptoms. "Doing modification in diet and taking natural antioxidants act as scavenging agents and control the cell damage can improve GI health and might help fight new GI-related COVID-19 symptoms", Arora told IANS. The results of several clinical trials suggest that gamma oryzanol supplementation can help people manage and control many gastrointestinal complaints.

According to the experts, the outbreaks of viruses with widespread and mortality in the world population have motivated the research for new approaches. While talking to IANS, Arora mentioned that even patients who are recovering from COVID-19 are experiencing massive gastrointestinal bleeding, which is due to clotting in the vessels that might lead to ulceration and necrosis and GI bleeding. It is seen that COVID-19 patients in the second wave are experiencing new symptoms, such as joint pain, body ache, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, ulceration in the stomach, etc, are among the new symptoms. The health experts also found the absence of cough and fever and yet people being tested COVID positive.

They also warned that as many details about the SARS-CoV-2 virus are still not known, it is important to maintain a healthy diet by taking natural antioxidants to keep our other organs healthy such as the liver as it plays an important role in keeping us healthy. "Gamma oryzanol improves liver functioning and remarkably exerts anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic roles in the liver as an important detoxifying organ", stated Namita Nadar, Head of Department, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Fortis Hospital Noida.

"One of the most important benefits of gamma oryzanol is that it has a protective effect on the liver. It can be taken as a food supplement for taking care of your liver", Nadar added. COVID-19 pandemic in India registered another alarming trajectory on 11th April with over 11.08 lakh active caseload reported in the last 24 hours, the highest ever in the last seven months. Only seven days are short in completion of seven months from September 18 last year when the highest ever 10,17,754 active COVID-19 cases were registered in India.