Liver disease and COVID-19: The link with oxidative stress, antioxidants and nutrition.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the potential role of antioxidant supplements, including Vitamin A, in supporting immune function and reducing oxidative stress in COVID-19 patients with liver damage.
Results Summary
The study suggests that antioxidant supplements like Vitamin A may help optimize immune function and reduce infection risk, but clinical trials are lacking to confirm efficacy, dosage, and timing.
Population
COVID-19 patients with liver damage.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antioxidant vitamins, essential trace elements and food compounds, such as polyphenols | neutral | oxidative burst | - | - | appear to be promising agents, with effects | #1 |
Deficiency of these nutrients | decrease | immune function | - | - | suppresses | #2 |
Deficiency of these nutrients | increase | susceptibility to COVID-19 | - | - | increases | #3 |
Daily micronutrient intake | neutral | anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects | - | - | is necessary to support | #4 |
Daily micronutrient intake for immune function | increase | current recommended dietary intake | - | - | may be higher than | #5 |
Antioxidant supplements (β-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium) | neutral | patients with liver damage | patients with liver damage | - | could have a potential role in | #6 |
supplementing the diet with a combination of micronutrients | increase | immune function | - | - | may help to optimize | #7 |
supplementing the diet with a combination of micronutrients | decrease | the risk of infection | - | - | may help to reduce | #8 |
Varying degrees of liver injuries have been reported in patients infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). In general, oxidative stress is actively involved in initiation and progression of liver damage. The liver metabolizes various compounds that produce free radicals. Maintaining the oxidative/antioxidative balance is important in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Antioxidant vitamins, essential trace elements and food compounds, such as polyphenols, appear to be promising agents, with effects in oxidative burst. Deficiency of these nutrients suppresses immune function and increases susceptibility to COVID-19. Daily micronutrient intake is necessary to support anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects but for immune function may be higher than current recommended dietary intake. Antioxidant supplements (β-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium) could have a potential role in patients with liver damage. Available evidence suggests that supplementing the diet with a combination of micronutrients may help to optimize immune function and reduce the risk of infection. Clinical trials based on the associations of diet and SARS-CoV-2 infection are lacking. Unfortunately, it is not possible to definitively determine the dose, route of administration and best timing to intervene with antioxidants in COVID-19 patients because clinical trials are still ongoing. Until then, hopefully, this review will enable clinicians to understand the impact of micronutrient dietary intake and liver status assessment in COVID-19 patients.