食用超加工食品（UPF）会增加感染新冠的风险

 

概要        

 

根据European Journal of Nutrition上发表的一项研究，食用大量水果和蔬菜以及拥有健康植物性饮食习惯的人感染COVID-19的风险较低。这一观察结果表明饮食与COVID-19之间存在潜在联系。过往的研究也表明，饮食与传染病有着息息相关的联系。

众所周知，营养是人类健康的重要决定因素。均衡的饮食可有益于健康的肠道菌群，从而调节人体免疫系统发挥作用，为其活动提供能量来源。而超加工食品 (UPF) 由加工食品物质的工业配方组成，例如脂肪、油、淀粉、糖和蛋白质分离物。

研究表明，摄入过多富含化学添加剂的UPF，会导致体内糖和反式脂肪水平提高，从而改变人体肠道微生物群的组成，刺激促炎作用，对免疫细胞的合成和功能产生不利影响。此外，UPF饱和脂肪含量高、纤维含量少可能导致先天性免疫系统的激活减慢和适应性免疫系统的抑制。严重依赖富含UPF饮食的人往往患有矿物质和维生素缺乏症，免疫系统会受到严重影响。而在COVID-19隔离期间，UPF消耗量会显著增加，这会再次削弱人们的免疫力，从而使他们更容易受到感染。

该研究首次探索了UPF消耗与SARS-CoV-2感染风险之间的关系，表明UPF饮食习惯与感染COVID-19的风险显著增加有关。因此，建议采用减少UPF摄入量的健康饮食来降低个人感染新冠的风险。

 

Consumption of ultra-processed foods increases risk of COVID-19

 

The rapid transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has immensely affected the global healthcare sector and economy. Additionally, the incidence of long COVID, which involves the persistence of symptoms for more than three months, has significantly affected millions of individuals.

 

Credit: Daisy Daisy / Shutterstock.com

 

Background

 

Several COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and non-pharmaceutical strategies have been designed to manage the ongoing pandemic. Nevertheless, a better understanding of the risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection would help protect individuals from contracting the infection in the future.

 

Nutrition is the key source of energy and is considered to be a major determinant of human health. A balanced diet is associated with maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, which is an important factor that regulates the immune system.

 

According to a recent study, individuals who consume greater amounts of fruits and vegetables, as well as a healthy plant-based diet, are at a lower risk of COVID-19. This observation indicates a potential link between diet and COVID-19.

 

Based on the extent and purpose of industrial processing, food-based products have been categorized into four groups by the NOVA classification system. Of these four groups, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consist of industrial formulations of processed food substances, such as fats, oils, starch, sugar, and protein isolates. These food products are subjected to hydrogenation, hydrolysis, or other chemical modifications by the addition of colorings, flavorings, and emulsions.

 

Typically, UPFs contain high levels of saturated fats, sugars, trans fats, and salt. Additionally, these products contain a low amount of protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

 

Several studies have indicated that UPFs are a primary dietary source of food adulterants and neo-formed compounds, which may alter the composition of the gut microbiota and increase the risk of inflammation.

 

About the study

 

Individuals heavily dependent on a UPF-rich diet often suffer from mineral and vitamin deficiencies, experience damage to the immune system, and are highly susceptible to infections. UPFs are associated with an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

 

Scientists have noted a scarcity of evidence related to the relationship between UPF consumption and the risk of COVID-19. Considering this gap in research, a recent European Journal of Nutrition study explored the association between UPF consumption and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

 

The current study used data from the United Kingdom Biobank, which is a prospective cohort containing about half a million participants from twenty-two assessment centers across Scotland, Wales, and England. All study participants were between 40 and 69 years of age. A total of 41,012 participants from the U.K. Biobank were considered in this study.

 

To assess the dietary intake of the participants in the previous 24 hours, scientists used the Oxford WebQ dietary questionnaire. This questionnaire included 206 types of food, along with their quantities and 32 types of drinks.

 

For the 24 hours dietary assessment, the online dietary questionnaire was recalled a minimum of two times and a maximum of five times. The current study measured the association between UPF consumption, as indicated by the percent daily gram intake, and SARS-CoV-2 infection using a multivariable logistic regression that was adjusted for potential confounders.

 

Study findings

 

A strong relationship between UPF consumption and increased risk of COVID-19 was observed. This association was consistent in varied sub-groups based on age, comorbidity status, and educational level.

 

Although the association between UPF consumption and COVID-19 was partially mediated by body mass index (BMI), a direct effect of UPF weight ratio on the risk of COVID-19 was established.

 

Some of the mechanisms that link UPF intake and increased risk of COVID-19 include enhanced levels of sugars and trans-fat, which stimulates pro-inflammatory effects. This condition could adversely affect the synthesis and function of immune cells.

 

Additionally, UPFs contain high saturated fats and reduced fibers, which might lead to chronic activation of the innate immune system and suppression of the adaptive immune system. The chemical additives of UPFs also adversely affect human health. Furthermore, a UPF-rich diet may cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies that could significantly affect the human immune system.

 

BMI was found to be a partial mediator that influenced the association between UPF and COVID-19. A significant increase in UPF consumption occurred during the COVID-19 lockdown, which might have affected people’s immunity, thus making them more susceptible to the infection.

 

Conclusions

 

The current study is the first to explore the relationship between UPF consumption and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This large prospective cohort study revealed that a UPF-rich diet was associated with a significantly increased risk of COVID-19. Therefore, a healthy diet with reduced UPF intake has been recommended to protect individuals from severe clinical outcomes.

 

Source: 

News-Medical

Published on August 21, 2022

 

 

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