From the Academy
Evidence Analysis Center
Effects of Micronutrients or Conditional Amino Acids on COVID-19-Related Outcomes: An Evidence Analysis Center Scoping Review

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2020.05.015Get rights and content

Abstract

Recent narrative reviews have described the potential efficacy of providing individuals infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with additional micronutrients to reduce disease severity. Although there are compelling reasons why providing additional micronutrients or conditional amino acids may affect COVID-19-related outcomes, evidence is lacking. The objective of this scoping review is to explore and describe the literature examining the effect of providing additional micronutrients or conditional amino acids (glutamine, arginine) in adults with conditions or infections similar to COVID-19 infection on COVID-19-related health outcomes. A literature search of the MEDLINE database and hand search of Cochrane Database of systematic reviews retrieved 1,423 unique studies, and 8 studies were included in this scoping review. Four studies examined a target population with ventilator-related pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, and the other 4 studies included patients who were at risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia. Interventions included intravenous ascorbic acid, intramuscular cholecalciferol, enteral and intramuscular vitamin E, enteral zinc sulfate, and oral and parenteral glutamine. In 6 of the 8 included studies, baseline status of the nutrient of interest was not reported and, thus, it is uncertain how outcomes may vary in the context of nutrient deficiency or insufficiency compared with sufficiency. In the absence of direct evidence examining efficacy of providing additional micronutrients or conditional amino acids to standard care, registered dietitian nutritionists must rely on clinical expertise and indirect evidence to guide medical nutrition therapy for patients infected with COVID-19.

Cited by (0)

M. Rozga is a nutrition researcher, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Center, Chicago, IL.

F. W. Cheng is a nutrition researcher, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Center, Chicago, IL.

L. Moloney is a nutrition researcher, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Center, Chicago, IL.

D. Handu is senior scientific director, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Center, Chicago, IL.

STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

FUNDING/SUPPORT This work was supported by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS All authors wrote sections of the first draft, thoroughly edited the manuscript, and approved the final draft.

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