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Optimal Nutritional Status for a Well-Functioning Immune System Is an Important Factor to Protect against Viral Infections.
Nutrients. 2020 Apr 23; 12(4)N

Abstract

Public health practices including handwashing and vaccinations help reduce the spread and impact of infections. Nevertheless, the global burden of infection is high, and additional measures are necessary. Acute respiratory tract infections, for example, were responsible for approximately 2.38 million deaths worldwide in 2016. The role nutrition plays in supporting the immune system is well-established. A wealth of mechanistic and clinical data show that vitamins, including vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folate; trace elements, including zinc, iron, selenium, magnesium, and copper; and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid play important and complementary roles in supporting the immune system. Inadequate intake and status of these nutrients are widespread, leading to a decrease in resistance to infections and as a consequence an increase in disease burden. Against this background the following conclusions are made: (1) supplementation with the above micronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids is a safe, effective, and low-cost strategy to help support optimal immune function; (2) supplementation above the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), but within recommended upper safety limits, for specific nutrients such as vitamins C and D is warranted; and (3) public health officials are encouraged to include nutritional strategies in their recommendations to improve public health.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Calder PC
Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16-6YD, UK.
Carr AC
Nutrition in Medicine Research Group, Department of Pathology & Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, P.O. Box 4345, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
Gombart AF
Linus Pauling Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, 307 Linus Pauling Science Center, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Eggersdorfer M
Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands.

MeSH

COVID-19Coronavirus InfectionsFatty Acids, Omega-3HumansImmune SystemMicronutrientsNutritional Physiological PhenomenaNutritional StatusPandemicsPneumonia, ViralTrace ElementsVirus DiseasesVitamins

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

32340216

Clinical Trial Links

Nutrition, Immunity, and Covid-19 in Obese People

Citation

Calder, Philip C., et al. "Optimal Nutritional Status for a Well-Functioning Immune System Is an Important Factor to Protect Against Viral Infections." Nutrients, vol. 12, no. 4, 2020.
Calder PC, Carr AC, Gombart AF, et al. Optimal Nutritional Status for a Well-Functioning Immune System Is an Important Factor to Protect against Viral Infections. Nutrients. 2020;12(4).
Calder, P. C., Carr, A. C., Gombart, A. F., & Eggersdorfer, M. (2020). Optimal Nutritional Status for a Well-Functioning Immune System Is an Important Factor to Protect against Viral Infections. Nutrients, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12041181
Calder PC, et al. Optimal Nutritional Status for a Well-Functioning Immune System Is an Important Factor to Protect Against Viral Infections. Nutrients. 2020 Apr 23;12(4) PubMed PMID: 32340216.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Optimal Nutritional Status for a Well-Functioning Immune System Is an Important Factor to Protect against Viral Infections. AU - Calder,Philip C, AU - Carr,Anitra C, AU - Gombart,Adrian F, AU - Eggersdorfer,Manfred, Y1 - 2020/04/23/ PY - 2020/03/10/received PY - 2020/04/14/revised PY - 2020/04/18/accepted PY - 2020/4/29/entrez PY - 2020/4/29/pubmed PY - 2020/5/1/medline KW - COVID-19 KW - immune system KW - influenza KW - micronutrients KW - minerals KW - omega-3 fatty acids KW - viral infection KW - vitamin C KW - vitamin D KW - vitamins JF - Nutrients JO - Nutrients VL - 12 IS - 4 N2 - Public health practices including handwashing and vaccinations help reduce the spread and impact of infections. Nevertheless, the global burden of infection is high, and additional measures are necessary. Acute respiratory tract infections, for example, were responsible for approximately 2.38 million deaths worldwide in 2016. The role nutrition plays in supporting the immune system is well-established. A wealth of mechanistic and clinical data show that vitamins, including vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folate; trace elements, including zinc, iron, selenium, magnesium, and copper; and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid play important and complementary roles in supporting the immune system. Inadequate intake and status of these nutrients are widespread, leading to a decrease in resistance to infections and as a consequence an increase in disease burden. Against this background the following conclusions are made: (1) supplementation with the above micronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids is a safe, effective, and low-cost strategy to help support optimal immune function; (2) supplementation above the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), but within recommended upper safety limits, for specific nutrients such as vitamins C and D is warranted; and (3) public health officials are encouraged to include nutritional strategies in their recommendations to improve public health. SN - 2072-6643 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/32340216/Optimal_Nutritional_Status_for_a_Well_Functioning_Immune_System_Is_an_Important_Factor_to_Protect_against_Viral_Infections_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -