COVID and Blood Type
What is the connection between COVID and Blood Type? Is there one?
I’ve been reading various reports regarding COVID and blood type. Some studies say there is a link and some don’t. Some scientists are skeptical of any talk about blood types and disease risk, an area that has been explored for years, yet with no definitive answers. Wellness proponents might be more familiar with the “diet for blood type” niche. I’m O-negative and I remember someone told me that because I’m O-negative, I should eat more protein than carbs. ( I don’t. I eat a lot of carbs, but healthy ones.)
Some questions I have concerning COVID and Blood Tye are: Do certain blood types increase one’s risk of getting COVID-19 or increase one’s risk of having a more severe infection? Do certain blood types increase one’s risk of dying from COVID? Do certain blood types lower the risk of getting COVID and/or having a serious infection? And if there is a connection, what is the mechanism of action? I’m most curious about the mechanism of action, because it’s something I know little about.
To answer some of these questions, Dr. Chrisophter Latz joined me on my Causes or Cures Podcast. Dr. Latz is specializing in vascular surgery at Harvard Medical School affiliate, Massachusetts General Hospital. He received his MD from Texas A&M College of Medicine and his MPH from the Harvard Chan School of Public Health. He has advanced training in observational research and recently authored a study on blood type and COVID-19 that was published earlier this year. I read the study and figured I’d reach out to see if he’d be willing to do an interview. Lucky for me, and my listeners, he was!
To listen to Dr. Latz’ podcast on COVID and blood type, click here.
If you enjoy it or learn something, let me know. And please consider subscribing and sharing the podcast too. I’m working on lining up guests for 2021, and really appreciate all the support. And, for the record, since many people have asked me, NO ONE sponsors my podcast. I do it in my free time, because I wanted a safe place where I could feature interesting people and freely discuss health topics that are interesting to me. I wanted the freedom to discuss more controversial topics, too, and corresponding guests, because it’s interesting to me from a cultural and societial perspective, as much as a health perspective. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the podcast is not medical advice. It’s information and conversations.
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