Coronavirus and nutrition: What is the evidence for dietary supplements usage for COVID-19 control and management?

Abstract

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, globalmedical research has undertaken a relentless quest to unravel the virulence mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2, the innate barriers of host defense, the surveillance of progress toward herd immunity, and the attempts to quickly identify and evaluate novel or alternative coronavirus interventions. This nutrition update highlights the important role of dietary factors in achieving optimum health and also explores possible approaches to augmenting innate host defenses. The potential anti-coronavirus benefits of micronutrients and macronutrients (ie, minerals, vitamins, lipids, proteins and polyphenols) to combat COVID-19 infection through inhibition of viral targets on human cell surface (ie, angiotensinconverting enzyme 2) for docking, entry, and replication and, furthermore, to regulate immune and inflammatory responses (cytokine storm), oxidative stress (redox imbalance), and normal signaling pathways to the reduce health risks among vulnerable populations (ie, elderly) with metabolic disorders (ie, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, asthma) and recovery of patients to normal health are discussed.