Importance of Dietary Changes During the Coronavirus Pandemic: How to Upgrade Your Immune Response

Abstract

The new coronavirus pandemic continues to spread causing further public health, social, and economic issues. The disparities in the rates of death between countries poses questions about the importance of lifestyle habits and the immune status of populations. An exploration of dietary habits and COVID-19-related death might unravel associations between these two variables. Indeed, while both nutritional excess and deficiency are associated with immunodeficiency, adequate nutrition leading to an optimally functioning immune system may be associated with better outcomes with regards to preventing infection and complications of COVID-19, as well as developing a better immune response to other pathogenic viruses and microorganisms. This article outlines the key functions of the immune system and how macronutrients, micronutrients, and metabolites from the gut microbiome can be essential in the development of an efficient immune system. In addition, the effects of intermittent fasting on the inflammatory state as well as metabolic parameters will be discussed.

The Implications of Zinc Therapy in Combating the COVID-19 Global Pandemic

“…254 Several micronutrients, particularly vitamins A, C, D, E, B2, B6, and B12, folic acid, iron, selenium, zinc, arginine, glutamine, omega-3 fatty acids, and polyphenols, are of critical necessity for the development of good immune status. 255,256 Selenium is a crucial component of the enzyme system of our body and a to a great extent, deficiency of selenium leads to improper functioning of the cellular immunity and increases the probability of oxidative stress which can further amplify the risk of viral genome mutation, enhanced pathogenicity and difficulty in treating the infection hence growing mortality. 254,257,258 Although evidence is limited yet early experience in COVID-19 patients shows that adequate selenium levels were associated with a better recovery rate than COVID-19 patients from the cities or high selenium levels had a high cure rate and low mortality as compared to low selenium levels areas.…”

COVID-19 and nutriceutical therapies, especially using zinc to supplement antimicrobials

“…Even 50 years later, poultry scientists are still very concerned about zinc nutrition as ‘preventive medicine’ (Naz et al 2016 ). The journal Frontiers in Public Health has published some important reviews including treating COVID-19 by dietary changes (Chaari et al 2020 ). The companion journal Frontiers in Pharmacology has discussed therapeutic options under investigation (Kaddoura et al 2020 ).…”

Mediterranean Diet for the Prevention of Gestational Diabetes in the Covid-19 Era: Implications of Il-6 In Diabesity

“…Moreover, the inflammatory response to viral infections is also boosted with a higher risk of cytokine storm [ 13 , 14 ]. Both malnutrition and over-nutrition are associated with impaired immune function and/or chronic low-grade inflammation [ 15 , 16 ].…”

“…Non-pharmacological interventions in the management of diabesity include changes of lifestyle and dietary advice [ 25 ]. The effects of the ketogenic diet and of intermittent fasting on immunity and inflammation are controversial [ 16 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ] due to the risk of ketoacidosis [ 29 ], which should be considered in women with GDM [ 30 ]. However, it is well known that the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), rich in vegetables, legumes, nuts, cereals, and fish, is effective in preventing cardiodiabesity [ 6 , 7 ].…”

“…MedDiet has been suggested for health promotion in the COVID-19 era [ 31 , 32 ]. Furthermore, it has been proposed that a balanced diet might improve the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection [ 15 , 16 ]. Moreover, the adoption of a healthy lifestyle (including diet and physical exercise) can reduce the risk factors associated with the thrombotic complications of COVID-19 [ 33 ].…”