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eMediNexus Editorial 15 January 2022

Background

o Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to global disruption and a substantial loss of life.

o Existing treatments that can be repurposed as prophylactic and therapeutic agents may reduce the damage caused by the pandemic.

o Dietary supplements and nutraceuticals have been widely used during the pandemic by the virtue of their immune-boosting effects.

o Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Zinc have become the most popular supplements in supporting immune health during these times.

o But the understanding regarding the efficacy of dietary supplements and nutraceuticals against COVID-19 remains unclear.

Possible beneficial mechanisms-
Nutraceuticals such as vitamin C, vitamin D, n-3 PUFA, zinc, and probiotics, have potential biological mechanisms that may have a beneficial effect on viral and respiratory infections and are the focus of recent clinical investigation.
These compounds have been shown to influence cellular processes associated with inflammation, which is especially relevant to COVID-19.
There is a well-established association between diet and inflammation, potentially mediated by the microbiome. Therefore, dietary modifications or supplementation might be beneficial to alter the inflammatory response, as diet and the immune system are interconnected.
A patient’s nutritional status greatly affects the outcomes in various infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Some of the major risk factors for severe COVID-19, which are also associated with poor nutritional status, include obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and age-related malnutrition.
Thus nutritional challenges associated with severe COVID-19 patients must be considered.
Source- Lordan R, Rando HM, Bansal V, et al. Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals under Investigation for COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment. mSystems, 2021;6(3):e00122-21. doi:10.1128/mSystems.00122-21

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