Two weeks ago we wrote on the the subject of how diet can influence the effect of Covid on us.  The reason I am writing on this subject again is that a study looking at this very subject was recently published which gives some fascinating facts that back up hunches that many scientists had.  This was a study published in a peer-reviewed, well recognised journal – the British Medical Journal Nutrition Prevention and Health on-line journal.

For the full article

Or if you want to read the simplified version.

The study included almost 3000 frontline doctors and nurses with extensive exposure to SARS-Covid in 4 different countries in Europe and the US.  Of the 2884 respondents, 568 (20%) reported either a positive test or symptoms consistent with Covid.  This study group was followed up between the months of July and September 2020, although part of a much longer study. The frequency of consumption of some 47 items was elicited over the previous year, and this was correlated with the severity of Covid-19 infections.  The survey also included information about personal background, medical history, medication use and lifestyle.

Three groupings of diet were identified and studied compared to usual diet:

• Predominantly plant-based (high in vegetables, fruits, legumes nuts, and low in red and white meat (254/2884)
• Pescatarian/plant-based (high in above but also with fish/seafood) (294/2884)
• Low carb – high protein diets (483/2884)

The rest – 1031 did not fit into these categories and ate just standard dietary fare (1031/2884).

What did this study show?

• Predominantly plant-based diet consumers had 73% lower odds of moderate to severe Covid-19 disease
• Consumers of pescatarian/whole food plant-based diet had 59% lower odds of moderate to severe disease
• Consumers of a low carb – high protein diet (as in Atkins or Banting diets) had 4 times the odds of having moderate to severe disease compared to plant-based dieters.

There was no association between what you ate and whether you got Covid in the first place, but the effect was in the severity of the disease.

Being an observational study, it does not establish cause, but just correlation.  However there is much evidence that diets rich in phytochemicals (polyphenols, carotenoids), vitamins, minerals and fibre (only found in plant-based foods) are excellent modifiers and controllers of the immune system.

Please note that plant-rich diets are not 100% protective against moderate to severe disease, but certainly better than most other interventions besides immunisation.  Adequate physical activity – as discussed in last week’s blog will most certainly enhance the effect of dietary interventions.

It is never too late to change our diet.  With the “tsunami” 3rd wave of Covid crashing down on South Africa, particularly in Gauteng, but likely to spread to even our part of the country in the next few weeks, we need to use all opportunities to minimise this risk. That includes social distancing, wearing masks, hand sanitising, proper ventilation in public places, reducing numbers in groups and being vaccinated. But also our lifestyle interventions – physical activity, diet, adequate sleep, stress reduction through relaxation and rest, social support and spiritual connections, and living with purpose.  Not only will we minimise the risk of moderate and severe Covid, but this will also help to minimise the non-communicable diseases like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, auto-immune disease and dementia – in the long term.

Until next week,

Dr Dave Glass

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