Thanks to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, immunity has now become the buzzword of 2020. Immunity is the ability of an organism to resist an infection or toxin with specific antibodies or sensitized blood cells. According to Public Health England, serological surveys since the pandemic began indicate that at most only around a fifth of people have antibodies to SARS-CoV-2: 23% in New York, 18% in London, and 11% in Madrid. While most scientists estimate that at least 70% of the population must have antibodies to prevent an outbreak, the majority of studies suggest that only about 10 to 20% of people currently have immunity.
This has led to consumers in the United States changing their dietary habits to boost immunity during the pandemic with 51% changing their diet; 54% eating more fruit; and 61% increasing their usage of vitamin and mineral supplements. A study conducted by St Louis-based MarketPlace, a brand strategy firm, showed that during the initial three months of the lockdown in the United States (March to June), disease prevention, digestive health, and immunity were the top reasons for taking supplements. Euromonitor International expects global growth of vitamins and dietary supplements to accelerate from just 1% in 2019 to over 4% for full-year 2020. Interest in these products will not decline as long as COVID-19 continues to drive consumer purchasing patterns.
Social isolation and poorer diets taking a toll
Due to lockdowns and restrictions put in place across the world as a response to COVID-19, nearly half of the world’s 3.3 billion global workforce are at risk of losing their livelihoods. Without the means to earn an income during lockdowns, many are unable to feed themselves and their families. People are more likely to cut food expenses and may have poorer diets as a result. The Elsevier Public Health Emergency Collection found that the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on teenagers and adolescents seem to be far greater than the impact on adults because they are more vulnerable to the negative effects of stress. Reduced social interactions, stay-at-home restrictions, difficulties in schoolwork, substantial changes to daily routine, remote learning, fear of becoming sick, and boredom can create dramatic psychological effects on both teenagers and adolescents. Self-perceived social disconnectedness and perceived isolation can lead to higher depressive and anxiety symptoms. These unprecedented stressors can cause a lack of sleep, but a lack of sleep can lead to stress. Stress can suppress our immune system, and a weak immune system can lead to increased stress. In short, stress that is not managed may result in devastating health crises.
Nutrients to the fore
It comes as no surprise then that consumer demand for vitamins, minerals, and supplements is on the rise as customers look to support their immune health, boost overall wellness and reduce anxiety in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The immune health supplements market alone is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 9% during the period 2019. The Innova Consumer Survey 2020, shows that six out of 10 global consumers are increasingly looking for food and beverage products that support immune health, with one in three saying that concerns about immune health increased in 2020 over 2019. With the endless amount of information at their fingertips, consumers have become more knowledgeable which has forced botanical suppliers to make claims based on science, research, and transparency instead of speculation.
A new study by Spanish researchers from the Hospital Marques de Valdecilla-IDIVAL-Santander and the University of Cantabria Santander found that over 82% of 216 hospitalized COVID-19 patients had a Vitamin D deficiency. This supports numerous other studies confirming the critical role that Vitamin D plays in COVID-19. Vitamin D is a hormone the kidneys produce that controls blood calcium concentration and impacts the immune system especially regarding protection against infections. Vitamin D is unique because it is not found in fresh fruits and vegetables, like most other essential vitamins. It can be found in fresh fish like herring, salmon, catfish, sardines, mackerel, and bluefish but people who don’t eat much fish can opt for fish oil supplements. Eggs, yogurt, liver and red meat are other food options that are rich in Vitamin D.
Numerous new studies are emerging that show high doses of Vitamin C could be linked to faster recovery in COVID-19 patients. Vitamin C is a safe, low-cost, and effective way of helping the immune system fight off acute respiratory tract diseases according to findings published in the journal Nutrients. Fruits and vegetables are the best sources of Vitamin C so eating a variety of these foods will definitely boost the immune system. Look for pineapple, kiwi, broccoli, green and red peppers which have some of the highest sources of Vitamin C.
Zinc is considered a potential supportive treatment against the COVID-19 infection due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant as well as direct antiviral effects. It has a role in antibody and white blood cell production and fights infections, and has been found to reduce the duration of symptoms of the common cold. About 30% of American adults are deficient in the mineral, so taking a moderate dose of the supplement may be helpful. Foods high in zinc include meat, shellfish, legumes, and seeds like squash, pumpkin and sesame.
The way forward
Although we’re still learning about the virus, what’s clear is that this is not just a virus that kills people but one that poses a range of serious long-term effects. It is encouraging to note that a large number of clinical trials approved at breakneck speed across the globe are addressing both antiviral effect and lung protection. While there is currently no pill or food that can prevent COVID-19, certain supplements may help you to boost your immunity, stay healthy or recover faster.
The COVID effect : According to Google trend on keywords searches, the word “Immunity” recorded to be tripled ever since the outbreak over the past 5 years.
