Nutrition and COVID-19
Intravenous high-dose vitamin C for the treatment of severe COVID-19: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Obesity, malnutrition, and trace element deficiency in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: An overview
Unraveling the roles of vitamin D status and melanin during Covid‑19 (Review)
The potential impact of COVID-19 response related lockdown n TB incidence and mortality in INDIA.
COVID-19 in diabetic patients :Related risks and specifics of management.
Nutrition Behaviours in polish Adults before and during COVID-19 Lockdown
Mini-Review on the Roles of Vitamin C , Vitamin D and selenium in the immune system against COVID-19
How can good nutrition boost immunity to fight COVID-19?
Number of vitamins (A, B6, B12, folate, C, D and E) and trace elements (zinc, copper, selenium, iron) are vital for supporting immune function. Other essential nutrients including other vitamins and trace elements, amino acids and fatty acids are also important in this regard. Thus, nutrient deficiency impairs immune function and increases susceptibility to infections and that these two outcomes can both be prevented or reversed by treating the deficiency(ies). This may be through diet or in some cases may require supplementation or some other form of therapeutic administration, depending on the nutrient, the extent of the deficiency and the setting.
The best diet to support the immune system is one with a diverse and varied intake of vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, grains and pulses along with some meats, eggs, dairy products and oily fish. Such a diet would preclude too much processed and ‘junk’ food and excessive amounts of saturated fat and sugar. In addition to considering the ‘direct’ effects of nutrition on the immune system, many plant foods, fibre and fermented foods play a role in creating and maintaining a healthy gut microbiota that will also help to support the immune system.
Is Obesity related to increased risk for COVID-19?
Obesity causes stress and disruption of several tissues, with inflammation mainly in the tissues, gut and respiratory tract. The stress and inflammation determine the altered activation of leucocyte cells. These changes impair the immune response, increasing the risk for the evolution of infections to severe disease, and might be the leading causes for increased death rate in patients with obesity and COVID-19.
In addition to disruption of the immune system, obesity can result in metabolic dysfunction leading to dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and CVD, all of which increase patients’ vulnerability to COVID-19 infection. Thus, obesity plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19.