Corona, influenza, and co – immune-relevant micronutrients in viral respiratory tract infections

ABSTRACT

Worldwide the pandemic of Covid-19 spreads rapidly and has an enormous public health impact with substantial fatal outcomes especially in high-risk groups, such as older people and patients with comorbidities like diabetes, dementia, or cancer. In the absence of a vaccine against Covid-19 there is an urgent need to find supportive therapies that can stabilize the immune system and can help to deal with the infection. As is well known, the incidence of malnutrition in German geriatric clinics is up to 60% among the hospitalized elderly population. The nutritional (= macro- and micronutrient) status of each infected patient should be evaluated before the administration of general treatments. In this context, the role of immune-relevant micronutrients, such as vitamin D, retinol, vitamin C, selenium, and zinc is of special importance. The laboratory assessment of 25(OH)D, selenium, or omega-3 index is therefore mandatory. Micronutrient deficiencies should be compensated by individual supplementation.