Foods to deliver immune-supporting nutrients

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Dietary components, particularly micronutrients, play a crucial role in modulating the immune system.
• Nutritional status is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing susceptibility and severity of infectious illnesses, including COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of specific dietary components, primarily micronutrients, in supporting immune responses.
• To summarize existing literature on the impact of foods and dietary patterns on immunity and infectious diseases, with a focus on COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing research.
• Focus on studies examining micronutrients, other nutrients, plant bioactives, and dietary patterns in relation to immune function and viral infections.

Main Results:

• Micronutrients, other nutrients, and plant bioactives are vital for a robust immune response.
• Deficiencies in certain micronutrients are linked to higher risk and severity of COVID-19.
• Plant-based diets show associations with reduced risk and milder cases of COVID-19.

Conclusions:

• Adequate intake of essential and non-essential nutrients and bioactives, predominantly from plant-based diets, is recommended for optimal immune support.
• Further research is required to establish definitive causal links between specific dietary intakes and susceptibility to or severity of viral infections.