A situational review of recommended dietary and lifestyle management guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Good nutritional support is critical for the immune system to be prepared to deal with the coronavirus (COVID 19) infection. However, in the context of the ongoing pandemic, there is a glut of nutritional information, sometimes unauthenticated, that makes understanding and adherence to nutritional guidelines impractical. This short situational review is an attempt to review, synthesize and summarize nutritional guidelines provided by national and international agencies to support optimal dietary/nutrient intake during this pandemic scenario. Nearly all authenticated guidelines and supporting literature recommend a daily intake of Vitamin A, B, C, D, E, and minerals such as Se, Fe Cu, Zn, phytonutrients, amino acids and omega 3 fatty acids since these are the vital micronutrients that optimize immune functions. In addition to these, dietary supplementation with Zinc, Selenium and Vitamin C are also recommended as a preventive measure since they possess natural infection fighting ability, though evidence against coronavirus infection is lacking. Though Covid-19 is not a food borne disease, it is pertinent that guidance related to maintaining good personal hygiene, hand hygiene and precautions related to food handling can help in keeping virus transmission at bay.