Plant-Based Diet Can Slash Severity Of COVID-19, Finds Major New Study
Those following a plant-based diet had 73 percent lower odds of experiencing a 'moderate-to-severe' course of COVID-19 compared to meat-eaters
Following a plant-based diet could help decrease the severity of COVID-19, according to a new major study published in the BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health journal. The study investigated links between the disease and different dietary patterns.
What this paper adds to the research:
In 2884 front-line healthcare workers from six countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, USA), individuals who reported following plant-based diets and plant-based diets or pescatarian diets that were higher in vegetables, legumes and nuts, and lower in poultry and red and processed meats, had 73% and 59% lower odds of moderate-to-severe COVID-19, respectively.
Plant-based diets or pescatarian diets are healthy dietary patterns, which may be considered for protection against severe COVID-19.
Severity of COVID-19
Over 23,000 healthcare workers (HCWs) from six countries with ‘substantial exposure’ to COVID-19 were asked to complete an online survey spanning over two months – providing information on demographic characteristics, dietary information, and COVID-19 outcomes.
There were 568 positive cases in the group. Of these, 138 respondents reported ‘moderate-to-severe COVID-19 severity’; 30 individuals had ‘very mild to mild COVID-19 severity’.
After adjusting for important confounders, it was discovered that the participants following plant-based diets and ‘plant-based diets or pescatarian diets’ had 73 percent and 59 percent lower odds of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 severity, respectively.
However, those following ‘low carbohydrate, high protein diets’ had greater odds of moderate-to-severe COVID-19.
No association was found between self-reported diets and COVID-19 infection or duration.
Original study:
Plant-based diets, pescatarian diets and COVID-19 severity: a population-based case–control study in six countries
- Hyunju Kim 1,2,
- Casey M Rebholz 1,2,
- Sheila Hegde 3,
- Christine LaFiura 4,
- Madhunika Raghavan 4,
- John F Lloyd 5,
- Susan Cheng 5 and
- Sara B Seidelmann 6,7
- Correspondence to Dr Sara B Seidelmann, Stamford Hospital, Greenwich, CT 06830, USA; smb88@caa.columbia.edu
Abstract
Background
Several studies have hypothesised that dietary habits may play an important role in COVID-19 infection, severity of symptoms, and duration of illness. However, no previous studies have investigated the association between dietary patterns and COVID-19.
Methods
Healthcare workers (HCWs) from six countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, USA) with substantial exposure to COVID-19 patients completed a web-based survey from 17 July to 25 September 2020. Participants provided information on demographic characteristics, dietary information, and COVID-19 outcomes. We used multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate the association between self-reported diets and COVID-19 infection, severity, and duration.
Results
There were 568 COVID-19 cases and 2316 controls. Among the 568 cases, 138 individuals had moderate-to-severe COVID-19 severity whereas 430 individuals had very mild to mild COVID-19 severity. After adjusting for important confounders, participants who reported following ‘plant-based diets’ and ‘plant-based diets or pescatarian diets’ had 73% (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.81) and 59% (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.99) lower odds of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 severity, respectively, compared with participants who did not follow these diets. Compared with participants who reported following ‘plant-based diets’, those who reported following ‘low carbohydrate, high protein diets’ had greater odds of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 (OR 3.86, 95% CI 1.13 to 13.24). No association was observed between self-reported diets and COVID-19 infection or duration.
Conclusion
In six countries, plant-based diets or pescatarian diets were associated with lower odds of moderate-to-severe COVID-19. These dietary patterns may be considered for protection against severe COVID-19.
Reference:
Kim H, Rebholz CM, Hegde S, et al
Plant-based diets, pescatarian diets and COVID-19 severity: a population-based case–control study in six countries
BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health 2021;bmjnph-2021-000272. doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000272