RESUMEN
Background & objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the death rate was reportedly 5-8 fold lower in India which is densely populated as compared to less populated western countries. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary habits were associated with the variations in COVID-19 severity and deaths between western and Indian population at the nutrigenomics level. Methods: In this study nutrigenomics approach was applied. Blood transcriptome of severe COVID-19 patients from three western countries (showing high fatality) and two datasets from Indian patients were used. Gene set enrichment analyses were performed for pathways, metabolites, nutrients, etc., and compared for western and Indian samples to identify the food- and nutrient-related factors, which may be associated with COVID-19 severity. Data on the daily consumption of twelve key food componentsacross four countries were collected and a correlation between nutrigenomics analyses and per capita daily dietary intake was investigated. Results: Distinct dietary habits of Indians were observed, which may be associated with low death rate from COVID-19. Increased consumption of red meat, dairy products and processed foods by western populations may increase the severity and death rate by activating cytokine storm-related pathways, intussusceptive angiogenesis, hypercapnia and enhancing blood glucose levels due to high contents of sphingolipids, palmitic acid and byproducts such as CO2 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Palmitic acid also induces ACE2 expression and increases the infection rate. Coffee and alcohol that are highly consumed in western countries may increase the severity and death rates from COVID-19 by deregulating blood iron, zinc and triglyceride levels. The components of Indian diets maintain high iron and zinc concentrations in blood and rich fibre in their foods may prevent CO2 and LPS-mediated COVID-19 severity. Regular consumption of tea by Indians maintains high high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low triglyceride in blood as catechins in tea act as natural atorvastatin. Importantly, regular consumption of turmeric in daily food by Indians maintains strong immunity and curcumin in turmeric may prevent pathways and mechanisms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity and lowered the death rate. Interpretation & conclusions: Our results suggest that Indian food components suppress cytokine storm and various other severity related pathways of COVID-19 and may have a role in lowering severity and death rates from COVID-19 in India as compared to western populations. However, large multi-centered case?control studies are required to support our current findings.
RESUMEN
This study was aimed to analyze the Ig subtypes and IgG1 and IgG4 subclass responses to crude soluble extract (CSE) antigen and Ag B of Cysticercus cellulosae in pre and post treatment (PT) saliva and serum samples for the diagnosis and follow-up of neurocysticercosis (NCC) patients. Saliva and serum samples collected from 55 patients (15 highly suggestive of NCC clinically and radiologically, 10 hydatidosis, 10 other helminthic infections, 10 tubercular meningitis, 10 neurological disorders other than NCC), 15 normal healthy subjects and 10 NCC patients at 1, 3 and 6 months following albendazole therapy were analyzed for specific IgG, IgG1, IgG4, IgM and IgA antibody responses by ELISA. With the use of CSE Ag, the rank orders in saliva for sensitivity was IgG (71.4%) > IgG1 (68.2%) > IgG4 (65.2%) > IgM (57.7%) > IgA (55.5%) and specificity IgG1 = IgA (93.2%) > IgG = IgG4 = IgM (91.6%) while in serum, sensitivity was IgG (78.9%) > IgG1 (71.4%) > IgG4 (68.2%) > IgA (65.2%) > IgM (62.5%) and specificity IgG1 = IgG4 (90.2%) > IgA (85.9%) > IgG (83.3%) > IgM (82.1%). With the use of Ag B in saliva, the sensitivity was IgG (65.2%) > IgG1 = IgG4 (62.5%) > IgM = IgA (55.5%) and specificity with the use of saliva was IgG1 = IgG4 = IgM (94.8%) > IgG (93.2%) > IgA (91.6%) while with serum the sensitivity was IgG = IgG1 (68.2%) > IgG4 (65.2%) > IgA (62.5%) > IgM (57.7%) and specificity was IgG1 (93.2%) > IgG4 = IgM (91.6%) > IgA (90.2%) > IgG (87.3%). Comparative analysis of antibody responses in patients with single Vs multiple CT scan lesions indicated higher sensitivity in multiple lesion patients. Antibody responses in PT samples indicated that the undetectable IgG4, IgM and IgA responses in saliva samples correlated well with the CT scan reports while in serum samples, responses persisted longer. In conclusion, this study indicated that due to the lower sensitivity of IgM and IgA responses in pretreatment samples, detection of IgG4 subclass in saliva to either CSE Ag or AgB may serve better marker in the NCC follow-up.