IMPORTANCE OF NUTRIENTS IN COMBATING WITH COVID-19

In present scenario COVID-19 pandemic is the leading challenge across the globe. This new coronavirus disease is declared to be a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. At present, we are dependent upon lifesaving drugs/vaccines. In addition to the drugs, the essential advisories are to be followed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 like maintaining personal hygiene, physical distancing, respiratory hygiene, vaccination, healthy and balanced nutrition and strong immune system. Our immune system protects against diseases and maintains health. Good healthy nutrition increases the immunity and controls the diseases. We need to pay attention to the importance of nutrition in curing the covid 19. This can help us to understand the relation between disease and our dietary intake. A number of vitamins (A, B6, B12, folate, C, D and E) and trace elements (zinc, copper, selenium, iron) help in maintaining the human immune system and prevent the infections. Vitamin A controls dendritic cell and CD4+ T lymphocyte maturation. Vitamins B6, B12 and folate are useful for proper functioning of natural killer cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Vitamin C fights against infection and helps in phagocytosis and bacterial killing, natural killer cell activity, T lymphocyte function and antibody production. Vitamin D improves cellular immunity. Vitamin E helps in cell-mediated immune responses. Trace amount of zinc increases the proliferation of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes and provides antiviral defence. Trace elements like copper has antiviral properties. Iron is also important for maintaining the immunity. In additions to these nutrients gut micro bacterias are found to be protective against respiratory infection. In this article the role of specific nutrients in the immune system, with regard to antiviral defences have been summarised .