Santa Kazuki, Tamaki Raita, Watanabe Kenji, Nagaoka Isao
Faculty of Medical Sciences, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan.
Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo College of Biotechnology, Tokyo, Japan.
Front Nutr. 2024 Oct 7;11:1465324. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1465324. eCollection 2024.
As the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic subsides, the clinical sequelae are becoming more problematic. Interestingly, the statistical data indicate that Africa has experienced the lowest number of cases and deaths, with an unexpected phenomenon where the number of deaths from COVID-19 has not increased significantly. Several studies have investigated the relationship between diet and coronavirus. However, no systematic review/meta-analysis has conclusively linked diet (phytochemicals and vitamin D) and the gut microbiota in the context of COVID-19.
This study examined the responses to COVID-19 in Japan and Africa, formulating the following hypotheses: (1) a healthy diet is effective against COVID-19, (2) blood vitamin D levels are associated with COVID-19 mortality, and (3) COVID-19 is associated with the gut microbiota. To investigate these hypotheses, a keyword search and meta-analysis were conducted using PubMed, and each hypothesis was tested.
This study found that a healthy diet, particularly rich in phytochemicals such as polyphenols and flavonoids, is effective against COVID-19. An association was detected between blood vitamin D levels and COVID-19 mortality. The gut microbiota was linked to COVID-19 and its amelioration. These findings may have significant implications for not only understanding COVID-19 but also future prevention of pneumonia.
随着2019年新型冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行逐渐平息，其临床后遗症问题日益凸显。有趣的是，统计数据显示非洲的病例和死亡人数最少，出现了COVID-19死亡人数未显著增加的意外现象。多项研究调查了饮食与冠状病毒之间的关系。然而，尚无系统综述/荟萃分析在COVID-19背景下明确将饮食（植物化学物质和维生素D）与肠道微生物群联系起来。
本研究考察了日本和非洲对COVID-19的反应，提出以下假设：（1）健康饮食对COVID-19有效；（2）血液维生素D水平与COVID-19死亡率相关；（3）COVID-19与肠道微生物群有关。为了研究这些假设，使用PubMed进行了关键词搜索和荟萃分析，并对每个假设进行了检验。
本研究发现，健康饮食，特别是富含多酚和黄酮类等植物化学物质的饮食，对COVID-19有效。检测到血液维生素D水平与COVID-19死亡率之间存在关联。肠道微生物群与COVID-19及其改善有关。这些发现不仅可能对理解COVID-19有重要意义，而且对未来预防肺炎也有重要意义。
