PREVENTIVE ROLE OF MICRONUTRIENTS (VITAMIN D, ZINK AND SELENIUM) AGAINST COVID-19 INFECTION
Dr. Subha Bose Banerjee*
ABSTRACT
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus-2), causing COVID-19 disease, is the most dangerous coronavirus ever identified, capable of infecting animals as well as humans across the globe. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects pulmonary epithelial cells. In severe cases, COVID-19 is accompanied by excessive activation of the innate immune system with progressive inflammation and a cytokine storm from activated cells, particularly in the airways, leading to the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). WHO has declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic. Though very little information about the potential protective factors of this infection are known. There is an urgent need for public health measures, not only to limit the spread of the virus, but also to implement preventive approaches to control severe COVID-19, e.g., by reduction of the excessive inflammation. Aged people are very much prone to severe respiratory infection than young people, probably due to the relation between old age and deficient nutrition and immunity. Clinical and subclinical micronutrient deficiencies common in older adults are known to contribute to decreased immune function and age-related diseases, implying that nutritional management is essential to reduce the risk of severe infection. There are lack of clinical data on preventive and/or therapeutic role of micronutrients like vitamin D, zinc and selenium in COVID-19 disease. In this review, recent clinical data on the role of these micronutrients in the protection against COVID-19 has been discussed.
Keywords: Micronutrients, Vitamin D, Zink, Selenium, Covid 19 infection, Nutritional supplements.
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