COVID-19 Nutrition Digest (June 2020)

Cannot afford to wait – health and nutrition services must continue (Image courtesy: POSHAN team)

For vulnerable groups at crucial development stages, like pregnant mothers and newborn babies in the first 1000-days, the provision of uniterrupted health and nutrition services is utmost essential. They cannot afford to wait, not even in times of COVID-19 pandemic! In the second issue of COVID-19 Nutrition Digest, POSHAN (Partnerships and Opportunities to Strengthen and Harmonize Actions for Nutrition in India) presents a collection of recently published peer- and non-peer-reviewed resources, analyzing the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the outcomes, determinants and coverage of interventions related to maternal and child nutrition. In these fast changing circumstances in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, as we look for ways to address malnutrition, we hope that you will find this information useful.

Peer-reviewed resources

Outcomes

Has COVID-19 subverted global health

Cash, R. and V. Patel. 2020. “Has COVID-19 subverted global health”. The Lancet. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31089-8

This article is of particular significance for India, because in it the authors question the appropriateness of particular strategies (like, the use of widespread lockdowns to enforce physical distancing and a focus on sophisticated tertiary hospital care and technological solutions) for less-resourced countries with distinct population structures, vastly different public health needs, immensely fewer health-care resources, less participatory governance, massive within-country inequities, and fragile economies. They argue that these strategies might subvert two core principles of global health: that context matters, and that social justice and equity are paramount. Read more.

Determinants

COVID-19: The Inflammation Link and the Role of Nutrition in Potential Mitigation

Zabetakis, I., R. Lordan, C. Norton, and A. Tsoupras. 2020. “COVID-19: The Inflammation Link and the Role of Nutrition in Potential Mitigation”. Nutrients 12(5): 1466. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051466

This review speculates the importance of nutrition as a mitigation strategy to support immune function amid the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying food groups and key nutrients of importance that may affect the outcomes of respiratory infections. It is highly relevant for India, where acute respiratory infection is a major cause of mortality among children under-five. Read more.

The impact of nutrition on COVID-19 susceptibility and long-term consequences

Butler, M.J., and R.M. Barriento. 2020. “The impact of nutrition on COVID-19 susceptibility and long-term consequences”. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.040.

This article proposes that wider access to healthy foods should be a top priority and individuals should be mindful of healthy eating habits to reduce susceptibility to and long-term complications from COVID-19. This is pertinent to India in view of the rising prevalence of overweight, obesity and diabetes among children, according to the government's Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS). Read more.

Interventions

Strengthening the Immune System and Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress through Diet and Nutrition: Considerations during the COVID-19 Crisis

Iddir, M., A. Brito, G. Dingeo, S.S.F.D. Campo, H. Samouda, M.R. La Frano, and T. Bohn. 2020. “Strengthening the Immune System and Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress through Diet and Nutrition: Considerations during the COVID-19 Crisis”. Nutrients 12(6): 1562. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061562

In this review, authors highlight the importance of an optimal status of relevant nutrients to effectively reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby strengthening the immune system during the COVID-19 crisis. This is important in the Indian context where micronutrient deficiencies need serious attention. Read more.

Enhancing immunity in viral infections, with special emphasis on COVID-19: A review

Jayawardena, R., P. Sooriyaarachchi, M. Chourdakis, C. Jeewandara, and P. Ranasinghe. 2020. “Enhancing immunity in viral infections, with special emphasis on COVID-19: A review”. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews 14(4): 367-382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2020.04.015

In this systematic review, authors summarize possible benefits of some vitamins, trace elements, nutraceuticals and probiotics in viral infections. They suggest that the nutrition principles based on these data could be useful in possible prevention and management of COVID-19. Given the rising number of COVID-19 infections in India, this information is highly relevant. Read more.

Non-peer-reviewed resources

Outcomes