Micronutrients as immunomodulatory tools for COVID-19 management

Clin Immunol. 2020 Nov:220:108545. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2020.108545. Epub 2020 Jul 22.

Abstract

COVID-19 rapidly turned to a global pandemic posing lethal threats to overwhelming health care capabilities, despite its relatively low mortality rate. The clinical respiratory symptoms include dry cough, fever, anosmia, breathing difficulties, and subsequent respiratory failure. No known cure is available for COVID-19. Apart from the anti-viral strategy, the supports of immune effectors and modulation of immunosuppressive mechanisms is the rationale immunomodulation approach in COVID-19 management. Diet and nutrition are essential for healthy immunity. However, a group of micronutrients plays a dominant role in immunomodulation. The deficiency of most nutrients increases the individual susceptibility to virus infection with a tendency for severe clinical presentation. Despite a shred of evidence, the supplementation of a single nutrient is not promising in the general population. Individuals at high-risk for specific nutrient deficiencies likely benefit from supplementation. The individual dietary and nutritional status assessments are critical for determining the comprehensive actions in COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Immunomodulation; Nutrients; SARs-CoV-2; Trace elements; Vitamins.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / diet therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / pathology
  • Cough / diagnosis
  • Cough / diet therapy*
  • Cough / immunology
  • Cough / pathology
  • Disease Management
  • Fever / diagnosis
  • Fever / diet therapy
  • Fever / immunology
  • Fever / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular / drug effects
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Micronutrients / therapeutic use*
  • Olfaction Disorders / diagnosis
  • Olfaction Disorders / diet therapy
  • Olfaction Disorders / immunology
  • Olfaction Disorders / pathology
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diet therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / pathology
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / diet therapy
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / immunology
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / pathology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Trace Elements / therapeutic use
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • Micronutrients
  • Trace Elements
  • Vitamins