The topic was the quality of the hydroxytyrosol-based dietary supplement developed by MAGISNAT, Garlive Recovery.

We first discussed the WHO publications:

Q. Can micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) supplements prevent COVID-19 in healthy individuals or cure it in those with COVID-19 disease?

A. No. There is currently no guidance on micronutrient supplementation for the prevention of COVID-19 in healthy individuals or for the treatment of COVID-19. Micronutrients are critical for a well-functioning immune system and play a vital role in promoting health and nutritional well-being. Wherever possible, micronutrient intakes should come from a nutritionally balanced and diverse diet, including from fruits, vegetables and animal source foods.

Q. Are vitamin D supplements needed if individuals are not exposed to sunlight due to lockdowns?

A. Vitamin D can be made in the skin by exposure to sunlight or obtained through the diet from natural sources (e.g. fatty fishes such as salmon, tuna and mackerel, fish liver oils, beef liver, cheese and egg yolks), or from vitamin D-fortified foods or vitamin D-containing supplements.

In situations where individuals’ vitamin D status is already marginal or where foods rich in vitamin D (including vitamin D-fortified foods) are not consumed, and exposure to sunlight is limited, a vitamin D supplement in doses of the recommended nutrient intakes (200-600 IU, depending on age) or according to national guidelines may be considered.

For more informations about nutrition see:

“WHO guidelines on Vitamin and mineral requirements in human nutrition.”

We also asked Professor Tommaso Beccari (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food Science and Nutrition Section, University of Perugia, Italy) for his opinion on the product’s qualities and characteristics: he composed a press note answering that question, which has been disseminated in newspapers and blogs (links are listed below).

This work is to be considered important, because it seems that a very small number of people in the U.S. take olive polyphenols directly from foods (such as: fermented olives, olive paste, extra virgin olive oil, or olive polyphenol concentrates in the form of supplements).