The Nutrition-COVID-19 Interplay: a Review
Janet Antwi1, Bernard Appiah2, Busayo Oluwakuse3
1Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Human Ecology, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, USA. jaantwi@pvamu.edu.
Current Nutrition Reports
|November 27, 2021
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns negatively impacted nutrition, causing weight gain and deficiencies. Nutritional interventions, including supplements like zinc and vitamin D, show promise in mitigating infection severity and improving outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacts host nutritional status, influencing infection outcomes.
- Nutritional status is crucial for combating SARS-CoV-2, even with vaccines and treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on lifestyle and nutrition.
- To discuss the direct nutritional consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- To explore potential nutritional interventions for COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on COVID-19, lifestyle behaviors, and nutrition.
- Analysis of the direct and indirect impacts of the pandemic on nutritional status.
- Synthesis of evidence on nutritional interventions and their efficacy.
Main Results:
- Lockdowns led to lifestyle changes, including weight gain, obesity, and increased cardiometabolic risk.
- COVID-19 infection can cause inflammation, poor nutrient absorption, and deficiencies, impairing immune function.
- Nutritional interventions (zinc, selenium, vitamin D, omega-3s) show promise in improving COVID-19 outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The pandemic exacerbates the double burden of malnutrition (obesity and undernutrition).
- Addressing nutritional status is vital for managing COVID-19 severity and improving survival.
- Targeted nutritional support and supplementation are key strategies in the fight against COVID-19.
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