Association of Healthy Diet with Recovery Time from COVID-19: Results from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The world is still in need of an effective therapy to treat coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). This cross-sectional study was conducted on COVID-19 survivors in Saudi Arabia to investigate the influence of a healthy diet on the recovery time from COVID-19. A questionnaire was developed to assess participants’ dietary habits, based on the 2015 Dutch food-based dietary guidelines. A total of 738 COVID-19 survivors participated in the study, of whom 237 (32.1%) were hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment while 501 (76.9%) were not hospitalized, and 320 (43.4%) were females and 418 (56.6%) were males. Overall, no significant difference was noted in healthy diet score between males and females; however, this score was significantly lower for Saudis compared to non-Saudis. Among the non-hospitalized patients, eating a more healthy diet was associated with a shorter duration of recovery (p < 0.05) and was significantly affected by gender (15.8 ± 9.3 male vs. 12.1 ± 8.9 female; p < 0.001) and marital status (12.1 ± 8.4 singles vs. 13.7 ± 9.3 married vs. 16.1 ± 11.8 divorced; p < 0.05). In contrast, no significant correlation was found with age or BMI. In this study, a more healthy diet was associated with a shorter duration of recovery from COVID-19. However, further studies are needed to thoroughly investigate the relationship between diet and recovery time from COVID-19.

Major dietary patterns in relation to disease severity, symptoms, and inflammatory markers in patients recovered from COVID-19

“…However, no significant association was found between the traditional dietary pattern and convalescence duration in patients with COVID-19. In line with our findings, a cross-sectional study on COVID-19 survivors in Saudi Arabia indicated that more adherence to a healthy diet was associated with a shorter duration of recovery from COVID-19 ( 16 ). Further studies about different common known dietary patterns are needed to expand the current finding.…”

“…Another study about COVID-19 symptoms and habitual food intake in adult outpatients indicated that an increase in habitual intake of legumes and grains, bread, and cereals was associated with reduced overall symptom severity in patients with COVID-19 ( 11 ). A recent study about diet and duration of recovery from COVID-19 showed that adherence to a healthy diet was associated with a shorter duration of recovery from COVID-19 ( 16 ).…”

Regional Agriculture and Food Systems Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of the Near East and North Africa Region

“…Society and culture Abduljawad [147]; Abolfotouh et al [148]; Abouzid et al [96]; Abu Hatab et al [99]; Ahmed [86]; Aijehany and Allily [149]; Al Agha et al [60]; Al Kassaa et al [87]; Al-Abdi et al [143]; Alafif et al [151]; Alah et al [144]; Alamri et al [152]; Alazaiza et al [140]; AlBlooshi et al [188]; Aldhwayan and Alabdulkader [153]; Alfayez et al [61]; Alghadir et al [62];…”

“…Abduljawad [147]; Abolfotouh et al [148]; Aijehany and Allily [149]; Al Agha et al [60]; Al Sadig et al [150]; Alafif et al [151]; Alamri et al [152]; Aldhwayan and Alabdulkader [153];…”

“…Alalwan et al [195]-Jordan and Saudi Arabia; Al-Saidi and Hussein [95]-Jordan, Lebanon, and the Gulf Cooperation Council; Ben Hassen et al [6]-Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, and Qatar; Hoteit et al [196]-Eastern Mediterranean; Tayyem et al [84]; Woertz [197] [147]; Abolfotouh et al [148]; Abouzid et al [96]; Ahmed [86]; Aijehany and Allily [149]; Al Agha et al [60]; Al Kassaa et al [87]; Al-Abdi et al [143]; Alafif et al [151]; Alah et al [144]; Alamri et al [152]; Alazaiza et al [140]; AlBlooshi et al [188];…”