Relationship between nutrients and COVID-19 infection in Japan

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between nutrients and COVID-19 infection in order to provide useful suggestions for infection control in terms of enterobactera. Based on the data taken from a national health and nutrition examination survey, the present study examined the correlation coefficients between each intake of 40 kinds of nutrients and the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in 12 areas in Japan. The number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people were cumulatively counted using three indices; 1 ） positive cases of PCR test results, 2 ） inpatients, 3 ） deaths reported by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The results revealed that the intake of carbohydrate and carbohydrate energy ratios had significant and negative correlations with the number of positive PCR test results in the 12 areas. In contrast, the intake of animal proteins, animal fat, monounsaturated fatty acid, fatty energy ratios, and animal protein energy ratios correlated positively and significantly with the number of positive PCR test results. Regarding the number of inpatients, only carbohydrate energy rates had a significant and negative correlation. No other significant and positive or negative correlations were found between the intake of nutrients and the number of inpatients. As for the number of death cases, intake of the carbohydrate energy ratios and vitamin K had significant and negative correlations with it. In contrast, intake of animal protein energy ratios had a significant and positive correlation with it. These findings suggest nutrients seem to prevent or promote COVID-19 infection. Further research is necessary to determine whether these results can be applied to individual participants longitudinally. To do so, the relationship between the immune system and enterobacteria should be examined from the perspective of nutritional physiology.