Blackmores Institute

In the study, published in the journal British Medical Journal of Nutrition and Preventative Health, the authors suggest that micronutrients may have an important role to play in treating infectious diseases like COVID-19, particulary in high risk groups, finding that they appear to play key roles in mediating inflammatory responses and correcting deficiencies could enhance this effect.
 “Correction of micronutrient deficiencies has proven effective in several infectious diseases and has been shown to promote favourable clinical outcomes,” the authors said. “Many of those at the highest risk during the COVID-19 pandemic are also populations at highest risk of micronutrient deficiencies and poorer overall nutrition. Correction of micronutrient deficiencies in established COVID-19 infection may contribute to supporting immune responses to infection in those at highest risk.”According to the authors, emerging evidence suggests a role for micronutrients in maintaining and improving immune function through a number of mechanisms such as development and maintenance of physical barriers (skin and mucous membranes), production of antimicrobial proteins, activity of immune cells and mediation of inflammatory processes. “A bidirectional relationship exists between nutrition and infection whereby poor nutritional status predisposes one to infection, and where infection is exacerbated by a poor nutritional status. Vitamins and minerals play a role in neutralising the effects of harmful oxidative agents that have the potential to damage cells and deficiency of these nutrients suppresses immune function and increases our susceptibility to infection, creating a vicious cycle of deficiency and disease.”Noting that certain individuals are at greater risk of micronutrient deficiency, for example, women of childbearing age (particularly pregnant and lactating women), younger children, adolescents (particularly females), older adults, obese individuals, the critically ill, individuals with inflammatory bowel disease and those with other chronic inflammatory and malabsorptive conditions, the authors suggest that a balanced diet alone may not be sufficient to meet micronutrient requirements.“This can be due to a variety of factors affecting intakes, absorption and also due to increased utilisation of micronutrients during times of infection. In such cases, the immune system can be supported by micronutrient supplementation, particularly to help correct deficiencies and attenuate the effects of concurrent treatments.”Recognising the absence of a clear consensus at this time regarding the clinical relevance of these micronutrients, the authors claim that results from trial data are encouraging and suggestive of significant effects and this should be considered in supporting specific immune responses to COVID-19.“What is clear is that conditions of nutrient deficiency impair the functioning of the immune system and increase susceptibility to infection. Importantly, both of these consequences can be reversed by correcting the deficiency.” “There is a strong case to be made for a focus on achieving micronutrient adequacy alongside attention to overall nutritional status, which has proven to play an important part in infection prevention and treatment, particularly in those at highest risk,” the authors concluded.Source: 
 BMJ Nut &amp; Prev Health. 2020. DOI:<a href="https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/bmjnph/early/2020/06/17/bmjnph-2020-000100.full.pdf">10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000100</a>

Researchers are calling for more research to be done on the role of micronutrients in infectious diseases, after finding that correcting deficiencies play an important part in infection prevention and treatment.

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