Biologically active food components as an element in the prevention of coronavirus infection: A review

Abstract

Immune cells play a vital role in protecting the human body from pathogens and viruses. The deficiency of a number of nutrients in the diet negatively affects the state of the immune system, which disrupts the chemical, structural, and regulatory processes in the body. The purpose of the article is to consider the role of various biologically active nutrients and bioactive substances in increasing innate and adaptive human immunity for the prevention of COVID-19 in the population. Using the research method of scientific electronic libraries, bibliographic bases of articles on medical sciences, it was found that such vitamins as C, D, A, and E, minerals (zinc, iron, selenium), resveratrol, turmeric flavonoids, garlic, green tea, elderberry extract, biologically active substances from an aqueous extract of wormwood leaves help prevent coronavirus infection or reduce the severity of the disease, having immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral properties. In the context of the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus infection, recommendations for including the biologically active substances described above in the diet can be extrapolated to the entire population to maintain the immune system and the body’s resistance to infection.