5 Frequently asked questions about Nutrition and COVID-19

Q1. How can good nutrition boost immunity to fight COVID-19?

Number of vitamins (A, B6, B12, folate, C, D and E) and trace elements (zinc, copper, selenium, iron) are vital for supporting immune function. Other essential nutrients including other vitamins and trace elements, amino acids and fatty acids are also important in this regard. Thus, nutrient deficiency impairs immune function and increases susceptibility to infections and that these two outcomes can both be prevented or reversed by treating the deficiency(ies). This may be through diet or in some cases may require supplementation or some other form of therapeutic administration, depending on the nutrient, the extent of the deficiency and the setting.

The best diet to support the immune system is one with a diverse and varied intake of vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, grains and pulses along with some meats, eggs, dairy products and oily fish. Such a diet would preclude too much processed and ‘junk’ food and excessive amounts of saturated fat and sugar. In addition to considering the ‘direct’ effects of nutrition on the immune system, many plant foods, fibre and fermented foods play a role in creating and maintaining a healthy gut microbiota that will also help to support the immune system.

Q2. Is Obesity related to increased risk for COVID-19?

Obesity causes stress and disruption of several tissues, with inflammation mainly in the tissues, gut and respiratory tract. The stress and inflammation determine the altered activation of leucocyte cells. These changes impair the immune response, increasing the risk for the evolution of infections to severe disease, and might be the leading causes for increased death rate in patients with obesity and COVID-19.

In addition to disruption of the immune system, obesity can result in metabolic dysfunction leading to dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and CVD, all of which increase patients’ vulnerability to COVID-19 infection. Thus, obesity plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19.

Q3. Is Vitamin A rich diet important to fight Covid-19?

There are a number of reviews of the role of vitamin A in enhancing the immunity and in improving an individual’s susceptibility to infection.

Vitamin A is important for normal differentiation of epithelial tissue and for immune cell maturation and function. Thus, vitamin A deficiency is associated with impaired barrier function, altered immune responses and increased susceptibility to a range of infections. 

Lack of vitamin A leads to respiratory infections, diarrhoea and severe measles. Studies show children with  no deficiency of vitamin A  reduced all-cause mortality, reduced incidence, morbidity and mortality from measles and from infant diarrhoea, and improved symptoms in acute pneumonia which is a symptom seen in patients with Covid-19.

Q4. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted food security status?

Prior to the pandemic, 21% of households were identified as food insecure. Six months into the pandemic, the prevalence of any food insecurity increased from 21% to 80%, of which mildly, moderately and severely food insecure households increased. Overall, 62% households changed from being food secure to food insecure during the pandemic. Household food insecurity (HFI) experiences sharply increased for each domain. For example, the prevalence of anxiety and uncertainty about the household food supply, insufficient quality of food and insufficient quantity of food consumed during the pandemic were 45%, 78% and 42%, respectively, which was much higher than before the pandemic.

Q5. How to maintain healthy diets and lifestyle during COVID -19 pandemic?

Good nutrition is very important before, during and after an infection. Infections take a toll on the body especially when these cause fever, the body needs extra energy and nutrients.

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing a lot of changes in the daily lives of people around the world. However, there are things that can be done to maintain a healthy lifestyle in these difficult times. Eat a variety of foods within each food group and across all the food groups

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Consume a diet rich in whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats such as in olive, sesame, peanut or other oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids
• Continue to practice good food hygiene.
• Drink water regularly.
• Limit consumption of alcohol.

And don’t forget, in addition to a healthy diet, other lifestyle factors are critical part of maintaining wellbeing and a healthy immune system. A healthy lifestyle includes additional strategies such as:

• not smoking;
• exercising regularly;
• getting adequate sleep; and,
• minimizing and coping with stress.