Nutrient modulation of viral infection-implications for COVID-19

Hye-Keong Kim; Chan Yoon Park; Sung Nim Han

doi:10.4162/nrp.2021.15.S1.S1

Nutrient modulation of viral infection-implications for COVID-19

Nutr Res Pract. 2021 Dec;15(Suppl 1):S1-S21. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2021.15.S1.S1. Epub 2021 Jun 28.

Authors

Hye-Keong Kim¹, Chan Yoon Park², Sung Nim Han^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Korea.
² Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Health Science, The University of Suwon, Hwaseong, Korea.
³ Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
⁴ Research Institute of Human Ecology, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put focus on the importance of a healthy immune system for recovery from infection and effective response to vaccination. Several nutrients have been under attention because their nutritional statuses showed associations with the incidence or severity of COVID-19 or because they affect several aspects of immune function. Nutritional status, immune function, and viral infection are closely interrelated. Undernutrition impairs immune function, which can lead to increased susceptibility to viral infection, while viral infection itself can result in changes in nutritional status. Here, we review the roles of vitamins A, C, D, and E, and zinc, iron, and selenium in immune function and viral infection and their relevance to COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Vitamins; immunity; minerals; viral infection.

Publication types

Review