Reasonable nutrition is an important condition for maintaining normal immune function. Malnutrition can cause underdevelopment of immune organs and decline in immune functions such as cellular immunity and humoral immunity.

Energy and protein

Too much or too little energy intake will affect the body’s immune function. Proteins and amino acids constitute the basic substances of the immune system, such as proteins are the components of cells, antibodies and other immune factors, and its deficiency has the greatest impact on immune function.

Fatty acids

Excessive dietary fat intake, saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, and improper ratio of n-3 to n6 in unsaturated fatty acids can reduce immunity.

Vitamins

1. Vitamin A and carotenoids
Epidemiological investigations have shown that the nutritional status of vitamin A is an important influence on the incidence of respiratory infections and diarrhea in children. Carotenoids are precursors of vitamin A and are themselves immunopromotive.

It should be emphasized that vitamin A can also cause toxicity in excess.

2. Vitamin E
The main physiological function is antioxidant action, and the effect on immunity may be to maintain immune cell function from damage by reducing the formation of free radicals; it also regulates the immune response.

In the appropriate range, vitamin E can promote the development of immune organs and enhance immunity. Similarly, too much vitamin E can cause toxicity, and either deficiency or excess can reduce immunity.

3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C can promote the synthesis of immunoglobulin/lymphoblasts, improve the function of white blood cells, and promote the synthesis of interferon, thus it has an antiviral effect. In addition, Vitamin C can also promote the synthesis of collagen, and improve the body’s ability to block foreign pathogenic bacteria.

4. Vitamin B
Pantothenic acid, riboflavin, folic acid and other B vitamins deficiency will cause cellular immunity and humoral immunity function decline.

Trace elements

Trace element deficiency will directly cause the body’s immune organs, immune cell damage and differentiation, in addition to other tissues through the impact of nutritional metabolism and growth and development, indirectly caused by the decline in immune function.

Most trace elements, such as zinc, iron, selenium, etc., have an important effect on the immune function of the body, and there are synergistic and/or antagonistic effects between the elements. Deficiency or excess of trace elements will affect the immune function of the body.

In order to ensure the proper amount and proportion of nutrients, experts and scholars from the National Health Commission, the Chinese Society of Nutrition, and the Society of Parenteral Enteral Nutrition of the Chinese Medical Association have formulated nutritional and dietary guidelines for the prevention and treatment of pneumonia in neocoronavirus infections.

Emphasize the right amount of energy:
Supplement a sufficient amount of high-quality protein, eat a variety of milk and milk products; meals with fruits and vegetables, often eat soy products, eat nuts in moderation; moderate amount of fish and poultry, eggs, lean meat, less fatty meat, smoked and pickled products; less salt and oil, sugar control and alcohol limitations; less balanced and healthy body weight and other various contents.