Immune-boosting role of vitamins D, C, E, zinc, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids: Could they help against COVID-19?
Open accessAbstract
The world is currently in the grips of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has mutated to allow human-to-human spread. Infection can cause fever, dry cough, fatigue, severe pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome and in some instances death. COVID-19 affects the immune system by producing a systemic inflammatory response, or cytokine release syndrome. Patients with COVID-19 have shown a high level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. There are currently no effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 viral drugs or vaccines. COVID-19 disproportionately affects the elderly, both directly, and through a number of significant age-related comorbidities. Undoubtedly, nutrition is a key determinant of maintaining good health. Key dietary components such as vitamins C, D, E, zinc, selenium and the omega 3 fatty acids have well-established immunomodulatory effects, with benefits in infectious disease. Some of these nutrients have also been shown to have a potential role in the management of COVID-19. In this paper, evidence surrounding the role of these dietary components in immunity as well as their specific effect in COVID-19 patients are discussed. In addition, how supplementation of these nutrients may be used as therapeutic modalities potentially to decrease the morbidity and mortality rates of patients with COVID-19 is discussed.
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Supplements containing Se help to boost the immune system; Se is sometimes combined with vitamins C and E.
“Supplements containing Se help to boost the immune system, Se is sometimes combined with vitamins C and E (Shakoor et al. 2021).”
From Reactive Oxygen Species, Toxicity, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidants: Chronic Diseases and Aging (2023) · cites this paper as Shakoor et al. 2021
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“Despite growing evidence [61,62] that proves the role of supplement compounds in supporting the immune system, the debate about the use of natural agents in the prevention and management of viral infections is still far from solved [63–65].”
- Authors
- Shakoor, H., Feehan, J., Al Dhaheri, A. S., Ali, H. I., Platat, C., Ismail, L. C., Apostolopoulos, V., & Stojanovska, L.
- Affiliations
- United Arab Emirates University (AE)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- University of Sharjah (AE)
- Victoria University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Stojanovska, Lily
- ORCID
- Venue
- Maturitas
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-01
- Volume
- 143
- Pages
- 1-9
- ISSN
- 0378-5122 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7415215
- OpenAlex
- W3048038632
- Cited by
- 465
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 65 · 2023: 112 · 2022: 112 · 2021: 121 · 2020: 15
- FWCI
- 13.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Maturitas (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Victoria University Research Repository (Victoria University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- niversity of Melbourne Postgraduate Scholarship.
- U Research, Victoria University Australia (PH098 from V)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Vitamin D Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Trace Elements in Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
- Keywords
- COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, immunomodulation, cytokine release syndrome, systemic inflammation, dietary supplementation, nutrition and immunity
- MeSH terms
- COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Drug Treatment, Ascorbic Acid, Humans, Immune System, Selenium, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamins, Zinc, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Dietary Supplements
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