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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2023 | Volume
: 14
| Issue : 1 | Page : 84 |
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The role of vitamins and minerals supplementation on COVID-19 prevention: Benefit or risk?
Erika Aparecida Silveira1, Patricia Constante Jaime2, Matias Noll3, Cesar de Oliveira4
1 Department of Medical Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia, Brazil; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
2 Faculty of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Brazil
3 Department of Public Health, Instituto Federal Goiano, Ceres, Brazil; Department of Nutrition. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
4 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
| Date of Submission | 04-Apr-2021 |
| Date of Acceptance | 24-May-2021 |
| Date of Web Publication | 22-Jun-2023 |
Correspondence Address:
Erika Aparecida Silveira
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_138_21
How to cite this article:
Silveira EA, Jaime PC, Noll M, de Oliveira C. The role of vitamins and minerals supplementation on COVID-19 prevention: Benefit or risk?. Int J Prev Med 2023;14:84 |
How to cite this URL:
Silveira EA, Jaime PC, Noll M, de Oliveira C. The role of vitamins and minerals supplementation on COVID-19 prevention: Benefit or risk?. Int J Prev Med [serial online] 2023 [cited 2023 Sep 30];14:84. Available from: https://www.ijpvmjournal.net/text.asp?2023/14/1/84/379408 |
Dear Editor,
In a scenario where there is a lot of uncertainty regarding SARS-CoV-2, vitamin and mineral supplementation have gained considerable attention due to the belief that they could prevent infection. However, the scientific evidence is tenuous with regard to their potential to prevent coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), and reduce disease severity or mortality.
A recent investigation into the effects of micronutrient consumption on reducing the risk of respiratory tract infections and inflammation associated with SARS-Cov-2 complications.[1] showed inconclusive findings. Some evidences suggest that Vitamins D, C, and zinc are a good immune support. Vitamin D has a role in reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines by macrophages.[1],[2] Some studies recommend vitamin D supplementation based on the fact that in winter when the outbreak started, vitamin D levels are at their lowest due to low exposure to sunshine.[2] However, this argument is not supported.[3] For example, Manaus, capital of the Amazonas State, Brazil, has one of the highest COVID-19 mortality rates in Brazil despite being near the Equator line, high sunshine, and adequate vitamin D levels. This reinforces the point that supplementation should not be recommended without good evidence to avoid the risk of over supplementation.
COVID-19's mortality rate is higher in older adults. A review investigating the potential immune-nutrition role to fight respiratory viruses and diseases in older adults highlight a lack of high-quality trials.[1],[2] In addition, there are concerns about the amount of fake news on supplements, promoted by aggressive pharmaceutical industry marketing, which usually argue that multivitamins have many health benefits with no side effects. Hyper supplementation without appropriate health evaluation increases the risk of health problems. This risk is greater in older adults due to preexisting health conditions, such as kidney, hepatic and cardiovascular disease, that can be aggravated by the toxicity of hyper supplementation.
Studies have demonstrated that a diet low in fruits and vegetables is associated with the development of chronic diseases and some types of cancer.[4] Based on this evidence, international organizations such as WHO have recommended the consumption of fruits and vegetables as a strategy to promote health and prevent chronic diseases.
A healthy diet is usually cheaper than buying dietary supplements with more physical and mental health benefits. A diet based on a diversity of natural and minimally processed foods and with less ultra-processed foods, usually rich in fat, sugar, sodium, and low in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, will be enough to reach international recommended vitamins and minerals intake.[5] More importantly, self-administration of multi-vitamins without a physician or nutritionist/dietitian evaluation, particularly in older adults, should be avoided.
Finally, we recommend carefulness, mainly to older adults. Maintaining a healthy diet based on a diversity of food groups and guided by Dietary Guidelines developed by the health authorities of each country, and exposing yourself to the sunshine at home may be sufficient for most people. Try to include five a day portions of fruit and vegetables[5] and avoid ultra-processed foods and. Also, the control of fake news regards this issue is needed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Gombart AF, Pierre A, Maggini S. A review of micronutrients and the immune system–working in harmony to reduce the risk of infection. Nutrients 2020;12:236.  |
| 2. | Grant WB, Lahore H, McDonnell SL, Baggerly CA, French CB, Aliano JL, et al. Evidence that vitamin D supplementation could reduce risk of influenza and COVID-19 infections and deaths. Nutrients 2020;12:988. |
| 3. | Ribeiro H, de Souza de Santana KV, Oliver SL, de Carvalho Rondó PH, Mendes MM, Charlton K, et al. Does vitamin D play a role in the management of Covid-19 in Brazil? Rev Saude Publica 2020;54:53. |
| 4. | Aune D, Giovannucci E, Boffetta P, Fadnes LT, Keum N, Norat T, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality—A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Int J Epidemiol 2017;46:1029-56. |
| 5. | Monteiro CA, Cannon G, Lawrence M, Costa Louzada ML, Pereira Machado P. Ultra-Processed Foods, Diet Quality, and Health Using the NOVA Classification System. Roma: FAO; 2019. |
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