Coronavirus-disease 19 (COVID-19) has rapidly become a global public health issue, and there is a desperate need for strategies of prevention, reduction, and treatment to halt the epidemic. The coronavirus affects the immune system, and individuals with a compromised immune system, such as those with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, are more susceptible to this virus. Lifestyle-related variables such as physical activity and nutritional supplements can decrease inflammatory markers, increase anti-inflammatory and antioxidant status, and improve the immune system. Lifestylerelated variables play preventive roles against various infectious diseases including COVID-19. This review highlights the effects of physical activity and nutrients supplements on the immune system and their possible benefits in combating the harms caused by infection with the COVID-19 virus.

Background:The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of eight weeks of resistance training in different environmental conditions on arterial factors in overweight men. Methods: The present study was conducted in Kermanshah, Iran, on thirty overweight males with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.4 ± 1.57 kg/m 2 , who voluntarily participated in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into a hypoxic and a normoxic resistance training group and a hypoxia exposure group, and performed the training protocols for eight weeks. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were measured before and after performing the intervention. Results: The results showed a significant increase in the level of VEGF in all the three groups (P < 0.05). Significant differences were also observed between the groups in terms of changes in VEGF (P < 0.05). In the hypoxic resistance training group, HDL increased and LDL, TC and TG significantly decreased (P < 0.05). No significant changes were, however, observed in lipid profile in the hypoxia exposure and normoxic resistance training groups. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that hypoxic and normoxic resistance trainings and hypoxia exposure positively affect the level of VEGF, and only the hypoxic resistance training could improve lipid profile in overweight subjects. Hypoxic resistance training is concluded to be a more effective method for improving arterial factors in overweight men.

Background: Vascular endothelial dysfunction is pathological conditions that may be due to complications of obesity in various arteries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks resistance training in different environmental conditions on endothelium progenitor cells (EPC S ) (Marker of CD34), oxidized-LDL (oxLDL) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in overweight men.Methods: For this Purpose, 30 overweigh male students in Kermanshah city with the mean age of 19.8± 1.13 yr participated in this study, voluntarily. Subjects randomly assigned into 3 groups including hypoxic and normoxic resistance training, and hypoxic exposure. Participants performed the protocols 3 days per week for 8 weeks with 70% of 1RM. The oxLDL, CRP, and CD34 were measured before and after the intervention. T-test, one-Way ANOVA, Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyzing the data.Results: There was a significant decrease in CRP and oxLDL levels in the hypoxic resistance (P=0.001, P=0.005), normoxic resistance (P=0.003, P=0.013) and hypoxic exposure (P=0.003, P=0.005), respectively. However, no significant difference was observed between variations of the groups. The cells of CD34 was increased after the hypoxic resistance (P=0.005), normoxic resistance (P=0.005), and hypoxia exposure (P=0.004). No significant difference was observed between variations of the groups. Conclusion:Considering the similar effects of hypoxic exposure with other groups on study variables, it may be possible to use hypoxic exposure as a beneficial manner for some overweight individuals at the injury and special circumstances.