Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront the importance of immunity and its role in fighting infections. While vaccines and other medical interventions are important, there has been a missed opportunity in promoting good nutrition as a key factor in building strong immunity. A growing body of evidence has shown that a balanced and nutrient-rich diet can help prevent and reduce the severity of COVID-19 and other infections. This paper will review the current evidence on the role of nutrition in protecting against COVID-19 and its serious effects, and will highlight the importance of incorporating nutrition into public health strategies.

Introduction:

COVID-19 has been a wake-up call for the world, highlighting the importance of immunity in fighting infections. While many have focused on vaccines and other medical interventions, there has been a missed opportunity in promoting good nutrition as a key factor in building strong immunity. Research has shown that a balanced and nutrient-rich diet can help prevent and reduce the severity of COVID-19 and other infections. Despite this, public health campaigns have not prioritized nutrition as a means of protecting against COVID-19. This paper will explore the evidence on the role of nutrition in protecting against COVID-19 and its serious effects, and will argue for a greater emphasis on nutrition in public health strategies.

Body:

• I. The role of nutrition in protecting against COVID-19
• Importance of immune system in fighting infections
• Evidence linking poor nutrition to increased risk of infection and severity of illness
• Nutrient deficiencies associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes
• Specific nutrients that have been shown to benefit immune function and COVID-19 outcomes (vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, etc.)
• II. Public health campaigns and the missed opportunity of nutrition
• Focus on vaccines and medical interventions
• Limited attention to nutrition in public health campaigns
• Importance of a holistic approach to public health
• III. Incorporating nutrition into public health strategies
• Education and awareness campaigns on the importance of nutrition
• Availability of nutrient-rich foods in schools, hospitals, and other public institutions
• Incentives for companies to promote and produce healthier foods
• Integration of nutrition into healthcare and public health policies

Conclusion:

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the importance of immunity and the role of nutrition in building strong immune function. Despite this, there has been a missed opportunity in promoting good nutrition as a key factor in fighting COVID-19 and other infections. Incorporating nutrition into public health strategies could help prevent and reduce the severity of COVID-19 and other infections, and should be a priority for governments and public health institutions. By prioritizing good nutrition, we can help build a stronger and healthier society.

References:

Calder, P. C. et al. Nutrition and immunity: lessons for COVID-19. Eur. J. Nutr. 59, 1403–1429 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02264-5

Damião, R. et al. Food and nutrition security during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive overview. Food Sci. Technol. 40, 7–16 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1590/fst.05420

Gombart, A. F., Pierre, A. & Maggini, S. A review of micronutrients and the immune system–working in harmony to reduce the risk of infection. Nutrients 12, 236 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010236

Huang, Z. et al. The battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): emergency management and infection control in a radiology department. J. Am. Coll. Radiol. 17, 710–716 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2020.03.011

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National Health and Medical Research Council. Australian Dietary Guidelines. (2013) Available at: https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/australian-dietary-guidelines-1-5. (Accessed: 23rd Feburary 2022).

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Micronutrients are ions and vitamins humbly required by the human body. They play a main role in several physiological mechanisms and their imbalance is strongly associated with potentially-fatal complications. Micronutrient imbalance is associated with many cardiovascular diseases, such as arrythmias, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease. It has been also observed in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly in most severe patients. The relationship between cardiovascular diseases and COVID-19 is mutual: the latter triggers cardiovascular disease onset and worsening while patients with previous cardiovascular disease may develop a more severe form of COVID-19. In addition to the well-known pathophysiological mechanisms binding COVID-19 and cardiovascular diseases together, increasing importance is being given to the impact of micronutrient alterations, often present during COVID-19 and able to affect the balance responsible for a good functioning of the cardiovascular system. In particular, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hyponatremia, and hypocalcemia are strongly associated with worse outcome, while vitamin A and D deficiency are associated with thromboembolic events in COVID-19. Thus, considering how frequent the cardiovascular involvement is in patients with COVID-19, and how it majorly affects their prognosis, this manuscript provides a comprehensive review on the role of micronutrient imbalance in the interconnection between COVID-19 and cardiovascular diseases.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/16/3439