Coronavirus and Nutrition: An Approach for Boosting Immune System-A Review
Lusamaki Mukunda François *
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani (UNIKIS), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Department of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) Mozambique.
Wabi Bajo Nagessa
Department of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) Mozambique and Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Ethiopia.
Buhendwa Mirindi Victor
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani (UNIKIS), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Mosisi Moleka
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani (UNIKIS), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Irene Stuart Torrié De Carvalho
Department of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) Mozambique.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The global health crisis as a result of covid-19 demands fast and efficient response from global health care system. The evidence of nutrition-based interventions for viral diseases from past clinical trials, and its importance for optimizing the host immune response was reviewed in this paper. The immune system has involved in the protection of the host from pathogenic organisms, communicating molecules and functional responses. It is a known factor that nutrition plays key role in supporting the immune system as the role of nutrients feature prominently in a number of scientific literatures. Several clinical data showed that micronutrients like vitamins, including vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and folic acid; trace elements including, zinc, iron, selenium, magnesium, copper and the omega-3 fatty acids like EPA & DHA play a major role in supporting the immune system. Inadequate intake of these nutrients is widespread resulting to a decreasing in resistance to infections and an increasing in diseases burden. Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the roles of nutrition for strengthening immune system for the patients to have strong resistant against the virus is also considered in this paper. It is believed that COVID-19 increases its severity or a host is susceptible to infectious disease once the immune system does not function optimally.
Keywords: Nutrition, micronutrient, immune system, coronavirus.