Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Morais, Ana Heloneida de Araújo
• Aquino, Jailane de Souza
• da Silva-Maia, Juliana Kelly
• Vale, Sancha Helena de Lima
• Maciel, Bruna Leal Lima
• Passos, Thaís Sousa

Titel

Nutritional status, diet and viral respiratory infections: perspectives for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Ist Teil von

• British journal of nutrition, 2021-04, Vol.125 (8), p.851-862

Ort / Verlag

Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press

Erscheinungsjahr

2021

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was recognised by the WHO as a pandemic in 2020. Host preparation to combat the virus is an important strategy to avoid COVID-19 severity. Thus, the relationship between eating habits, nutritional status and their effects on the immune response and further implications in viral respiratory infections is an important topic discussed in this review. Malnutrition causes the most diverse alterations in the immune system, suppressing of the immune response and increasing the susceptibility to infections such as SARS-CoV-2. On the other hand, obesity induces low-grade chronic inflammation caused by excess adiposity, which increases angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. It decreases the immune response favouring SARS-CoV-2 virulence and promoting respiratory distress syndrome. The present review highlights the importance of food choices considering their inflammatory effects, consequently increasing the viral susceptibility observed in malnutrition and obesity. Healthy eating habits, micronutrients, bioactive compounds and probiotics are strategies for COVID-19 prevention. Therefore, a diversified and balanced diet can contribute to the improvement of the immune response to viral infections such as COVID-19.