key: cord-0849082-54n8dxe9
authors: Idelson, Paola Iaccarino; Rendina, Domenico; Strazzullo, Pasquale
title: Nutrition And The Covid-19 Pandemic: Three Factors With High Impact On Community Health
date: 2020-12-08
journal: Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis
DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2020.12.001
sha: f46d030129be3723e3862ce610bdb2faec1a6336
doc_id: 849082
cord_uid: 54n8dxe9

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.

J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f in the innate and the acquired immunity defence system and the potential effects of the related nutritional 55 inadequacies would be warranted under the present circumstances [3] [4] [5] . Before considering the specific 56 role of each of these factors and referring the reader to other appropriate sources for more extensive and 57 specialist description [6], we recall here that the innate immunity comprises i) the mechanisms of primary 58 defence of our organism against external pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi), including the integrity of the 59 skin and of the mucous barriers, and ii) the components of the more advanced defence against the same 60 pathogens, once they should overcome these barriers, based on the activity of circulating monocytes and 61 their transformation into macrophages, the cellular elements that will attack and try to block the invasion.

The acquired immunity is instead based on the proliferation and balanced differentiation of lymphocytes 63 into B cells, which are primarily intended for the production of circulating antibodies, and T cells, which 64 differentiate into different subtypes producing different cytokines, molecules involved in the inflammatory response to pathogens, some of which increase the power of the inflammatory response whereas others 66 tend to modulate and possibly attenuate it. of innate and of acquired immunity. Although the role of the vitamin D on neutrophil activity is still poorly understood, there is evidence that these cells have the VDR on their surface and that exogenously 83 administered calcitriol reduces their production of inflammatory mediators and formation of reactive 

More recently, some authors assessed the relationship between Covid-19 disease and vitamin D deficiency.

The results of these studies are summarised in Table 1 lower risk of unconsciousness (p=0.03) and hypoxia (p=0.004), a lower C-reactive protein blood level (p=0.01) and a higher blood lymphocyte percentage (p=0.03).

Moreover, in a logistic regression model, vitamin D sufficiency was independently associated with decreased disease severity.

Entrenas Castillo, et al.

Mol Biol, 2020 

Nutrition advice for adults during the COVID-19 outbreak

Chronic alcohol consumption in mice increases the proportion of peripheral 373 memory T cells by homeostatic proliferation

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