Role of Nutrition in Prevention and Prognosis of the COVID-19 Infection - A Review

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has become a major global human threat that has disrupted people?s lives all over the world. Existing evidence suggests that nutrition may have a profound effect on the immune system and susceptibility to this disease. Some nutrients have been reported to have an important role in the prevention and management of COVID-19 infection. The nutritional status of the host may influence the clinical outcomes of COVID-19. Correction of micronutrient deficiencies in patients with established COVID-19 infection may contribute to improving the immune response to the infection in those who are at highest risk. Accordingly, maintaining a healthy immune system is critical at all times - more so during the COVID-19 outbreak. Hence, improving the quality of diet in individuals vulnerable to COVID-19 might reduce their risk of developing complications. It is hypothesized that nutrition may play an important role in protecting individuals from contracting this disease or leading to positive outcomes and quicker recoveries of the already infected patients. This review is a narrative one and will examine the available evidence on the association between nutrition and the COVID-19 infection.