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Nutrition and the Covid-19 pandemic: Three factors with high impact on community health.

Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD
January 1, 1970
Paola Iaccarino Idelson et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to review the potential role of excess salt intake in immune defense and its impact on SARS-COV2 infection response.

Results Summary

The study suggests excess salt intake negatively impacts immune defense structure and function, warranting attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, but lacks RCT evidence for protective effects.

Population

Subjects at high mortality risk from SARS-COV2 infection, such as institutionalized elderly and those with predisposing conditions.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
dietary or pharmacological supplementation of any particular substance
no change
effectiveness of the immune defences
-
no clinical trial evidence
no clinical trial evidence that will increase
#1
vitamin D deficiency
decrease
immune defence structure and function
-
-
risk of inadequate status
#2
excess salt intake
decrease
immune defence structure and function
-
-
inappropriate intake
#3
inappropriate alcohol consumption
decrease
immune defence structure and function
-
-
inappropriate consumption
#4
correction of these three nutritional criticisms
increase
protection against the new enemy
-
-
special attention is certainly warranted
#5
Abstract

AIMS: In the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple suggestions have been delivered through websites and social media referring to natural substances and various kinds of supplements with thaumaturgical properties in preventing and/or fighting the coronavirus infection. Indeed, there is no clinical trial evidence that a dietary or pharmacological supplementation of any particular substance will increase the effectiveness of the immune defences. There are however three nutritional issues that deserve special attention under the present circumstances, namely vitamin D deficiency, excess salt intake and inappropriate alcohol consumption. Here is a short review of the current knowledge about the possible role of these factors in the immunity defence system and their potential impact on the modulation of the immune response to SARS-COV2 infection. DATA SYNTHESIS: For all of these factors there is convincing evidence of an impact on the immune defence structure and function. In the absence of RCT demonstration that increased ingestion of any given substance may confer protection against the new enemy, special attention to correction of these three nutritional criticisms is certainly warranted at the time of COVID pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the inappropriate intake of salt and alcohol and the risk of inadequate vitamin D status should be object of screening, in particular in subjects at high mortality risk from SARS-COV 2 infection, such as institutionalised elderly subjects and all those affected by predisposing conditions.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Alcohol DrinkingCOVID-19DietDietary SupplementsHumansImmunityNutritional StatusPandemicsPublic HealthRisk FactorsSARS-CoV-2Sodium, DietaryVitamin DVitamin D DeficiencyVitamins
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy30/10
Quality65/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations3
Citations/Year0.8
Relative Citation Ratio0.32
NIH Percentile17.1%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score0.67
Normalized Score0.45
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