Nutrition and COVID-19 susceptibility? A systematic review
This is a summary of the following paper: James P, Ali Z, Armitage A, Bonell A, Cerami C, Drakesmith H et al (2021) The Role of Nutrition in COVID-19 Susceptibility and Severity of Disease: A Systematic Review. The Journal of Nutrition 0, 1-25. https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/151/7/1854/6274856
Many nutrients have powerful effects on the immune system with the potential to alter susceptibility to COVID-19 infection, progression to symptoms, the likelihood of severe disease and survival. However, nutrition information has long been miscommunicated to the public and nutrition-related myths regarding COVID-19 protection and treatment have been widely prevalent during this pandemic. This review investigates the latest evidence on how malnutrition across all its forms (under- and over-nutrition and micronutrient status) may influence both susceptibility to, and the progression of, COVID-19.
The authors synthesised information on 13 nutrition-related components and their potential interactions with COVID-19: overweight, obesity and diabetes, protein-energy malnutrition, anaemia, vitamins A, C, D and E, poly-unsaturated fatty acids, iron, selenium, zinc, antioxidants and nutritional support. For each section they provided a) a background narrative review summarising the relevant material, b) a systematic search of the literature and c) a screen of six clinical trial registries. Searches took place between 16th May and 11th August 2020.
In the final narrative synthesis, the authors summarise 22 published articles, 38 pre-print articles and 79 trials. Despite the wealth of literature being published, the evidence directly linking nutritional status to the risk and progression of COVID-19 is still sparse due to the lack of high-quality data. The authors conclude that currently there is limited evidence that high-dose supplements of micronutrients will either prevent severe disease or speed up recovery. However, the results of clinical trials are eagerly awaited. Given the known impacts of all forms of malnutrition on the immune system, public health strategies to reduce micronutrient deficiencies and undernutrition remain of critical importance. Furthermore, there is strong evidence that the prevention of obesity and type-2 diabetes will reduce the risk of serious COVID-19 outcomes.
More like this
FEX: Interactions between nutrition and immune function: using inflammation biomarkers to interpret micronutrient status
Summary of research1 Location: Global What we know: Both clinical and sub-clinical inflammation affect the plasma concentration of many nutrients. This complicates assessment...
FEX: Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect
Summary of research1 Location: Global What we know: The decision not to breastfeed a child impacts on the health, nutrition and development of a child and on women's...
FEX: Relaxation interventions for maternal and neonatal outcomes: A systematic review
View this article as a pdf This is a summary of the following paper: Abera M, Hanlon C, Daniel B et al (2022) Effect of relaxation interventions in pregnant women on maternal...
FEX: Post-discharge interventions for children hospitalised with severe acute malnutrition
View this article as a pdf Research Snapshot1 It is well-evidenced that children hospitalised with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) have poor long-term outcomes following...
FEX: Do children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition need antibiotics?
Summary of review1 Location: Multi-country review What we know already: Current WHO guidelines recommend routine antibiotics for all children with severe acute malnutrition...
FEX: Letter on inadequate coverage of SAM in Lancet Undernutrition Series, by Susan Shepherd
SAM inadequately addressed in the Lancet Undernutrition Series Dear Editor, In 2003, The Lancet captured and focused attention on saving children’s lives with the publication...
FEX: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the social, economic and health status of low-income populations in India
View this article as a pdf Research Snapshot1 In response to surging COVID-19 cases, the Government of India imposed a lockdown in most districts of the 22 States and Union...
FEX: Dietary intake and practices of adolescent girls in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review
View this article as a pdf This is a summary of the following paper: Keats, E.C., Rappaport, A.I., Shah, S., Oh, C., Jain, R. & Bhutta, Z.A. (2018). The Dietary Intake and...
en-net: COVID-19 and Breastfeeding, Infant feeding and Breastmilk - scientific updates
Colleagues, We have updated our special repository on Breastfeeding, Infant Feeding, Breast Milk and COVID-19. Since our last update Friday 23 October 2020, we have added 28...
en-net: What constitutes a ‘balanced diet’ to protect against infection?
Question escalated to the prevention workstream of the Wasting TWG. What constitutes a 'balanced diet' to protect against infection - on a practical level, how can this...
en-net: CMAM and routine medicine
Based on WHO guideline, all severe acute malnourished children admitted to therapeutic programme are supposed to receive antibiotic whether or not they show any sign and...
FEX: Concerns that The Lancet double-burden series may undermine moderate wasting treatment
View this article as a pdf By Mark Manary, Donna Wegner, D Taylor Hendrixson, Rebecca Roediger, Meghan Callaghan Mark Manary is one of the world's foremost experts in...
en-net: Should rations be adapted to provide a protective diet?
Question escalated to the prevention workstream of the Wasting TWG Should rations be adapted to provide a protective diet? What are the most important messages to put out...
FEX: The current state of evidence and thinking on wasting prevention
Summary of research1 Background ENN produced a report, through the MQSUN+ programme, that synthesises existing evidence and stakeholder opinion on what works to prevent...
Resource: Antimicrobial and micronutrient interventions for the management of infants under 6 months of age identified with severe malnutrition: a literature review
Background Infants under 6 months (U6M) contribute a significant proportion of the burden and mortality of severe malnutrition globally. Evidence of underlying aetiology in...
FEX: HIV and nutrition: recommendations for nutritional care and support
Summary of a review1 HIV/AIDS and malnutrition are inextricably interrelated. Research suggests that malnutrition increases the risk of HIV transmission from mothers to babies...
FEX: Tackling the double burden of malnutrition in low and middle-income countries: response of the international community
Research By Alexandra Rutishauser-Perera Alexandra Rutishauser-Perera is a Humanitarian Nutrition Adviser with Save the Children. She has ten years of experience of public...
FEX: Use of media to engage school-age children and adolescents to improve their nutrition and health
View this article as a pdf By Stephanie V. Wrottesley Stephanie Wrottesley is a Nutritionist with ENN As children and adolescents age, they experience rapid physical, mental...
en-net: Updates on Breastfeeding, Infant Feeding, Breast Milk and COVID-19 – excerpts from scientific journal articles – 18 December 2020
Dear Colleagues, We have updated our special repository on Breastfeeding, Infant Feeding, Breast Milk and COVID-19. Since our last update Friday 4 December 2020, we have...
en-net: COVID-19 and Breastfeeding, Infant feeding and Breastmilk - scientific updates
NEW Updates on Breastfeeding, Infant Feeding, Breast Milk and COVID-19 - excerpts from scientific journal articles - 20 November 2020 Dear Colleagues, We have updated...
Reference this page
Nutrition and COVID-19 susceptibility? A systematic review. Field Exchange 67, April 2022. p75. www.ennonline.net/fex/67/nutritionandcovid19asystematicreview
(ENN_7335)