In a recent study, researchers assessed the function of micronutrients and metabolites derived from gut microbiota in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) recovery.
The availability of sufficient micronutrients and gut flora in homeostasis are two of the many positive benefits of a balanced diet on health. Vitamins and minerals provide an immunoregulatory function and participate in biochemical reactions as cofactors and coenzymes; in contrast, the gut microbiota and its metabolites control the cell response directly and indirectly through their interactions with host receptors. The probable causes of this susceptibility are diet and gut microbiota makeup. Its supplementation can help reestablish microbial balance and boost the immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and recovery.
Fat‐Soluble Vitamins
Like vitamin C, the pool storage of retinoic acid is quickly depleted in response to viral load, leading to fever. There has been no research on the impact of vitamin A on COVID-19 or post-COVID syndrome patients, despite claims about how well it modulates the immune system and viral replication. Lack of vitamin D enables SARS-CoV-2 to persist and replicate in the host. In addition, compared to mild COVID-19 symptoms, severe COVID-19 symptoms were associated with vitamin D shortages.
Recent studies have shown that severe COVID-19 patients with vitamin D deficiency have altered cytokine storms due to changes in the synthesis of cytokines like IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma. Vitamin E may be a crucial regulator in this disease because of its ability to reduce reactive species during active SARS-CoV-2 infection efficiently.
Water and Electrolyte Imbalance
Dehydration, diarrhea, and vomiting are risk factors associated with fluid distribution and electrolyte imbalance and are frequently present in most severe COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, chest pain and heart palpitations are the two predominant cardiovascular symptoms that COVID-19 patients report. Researchers discovered a considerable relationship between the two illnesses since cardiovascular disease (CVD) is commonly reported by those with COVID-19.
The association could be explained by the principal route through which SARS-CoV-2 enters the human host, the ACE-2 receptor, a component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Additionally, one of the main causes of heart failure is RAAS. As a result, it is acceptable to say that COVID-19 aggravates and precipitates early-onset CVD. In addition, patients who have already had CVD may acquire a more severe form of COVID-19, which would significantly negatively impact their ability to recover from the post-COVID-19 syndrome.
Gut Microbiota in the COVID‐19 Infection and Sequelae
The team also determined that SARS-CoV-2-infected people have higher opportunistic infections, such as Actinomyces, Streptococcus, and Rothia. A negative link was found between Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bifidobacterium bifidum, which also has immunomodulator potential and significant anti-inflammatory capabilities that support the host defense. Opportunistic pathogens like Collinsella, Coriobacteriaceae, Enterococcaceae, and Staphylococcaceae are observed in the gut microbiota of critical COVID-19 patients. These pathogens are associated with better health conditions because they produce short-chain fatty acids, but their production is significantly reduced in COVID-19 patients. Due to their inherent resistance to various medicines and their rapid adaptability to chemotherapy, this enormous number of microorganisms may have an impact on the clinical condition of the patients.
Overall, the study demonstrated the evidence of the significance of micronutrients in the immune system's control of viral infections, particularly SARS-CoV-2, and showed their importance as a therapeutic support tool.
Source:
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221018/What-is-the-function-of-micronutrients-in-COVID-19-recovery.aspx