engleski

Malnutrition in COVID-19

A novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 virus is rapidly spreading worldwide, making coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a global emergency. Although it is initially identified as the causative agent for respiratory diseases, now it is known that the SARS- CoV-2 virus colonizes and affects the gastrointestinal tract, leading to impairment of patient's nutritional status and consequently malnutrition. Using the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor as an entry receptor in the cells of the gastrointestinal tract, the virus creates rapid viral replication and cell damage, which causes inflammation and increased cytokine secretion. On the other hand, it is known that malnutrition decreases immune response with consequent increased risk of infection and disease severity. The associations between malnutrition and COVID-19 can be explained by the complex interactions between infection and nutritional status, resulting in a vicious cycle. This vicious cycle begins with an inflammatory response that generates fever, increases catabolism, and alters the intestinal absorption, which induces or aggravates malnutrition. Malnutrition, in turn, reduces gut barrier function, modifies the intestinal microbiota, and compromises immune cell generation and activation. All things considered, malnutrition has been identified as a negative prognostic factor in COVID-19 disease, increasing hospital length of stay, death rate, and re-admission rate.

SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19 ; nutritional status ; malnutrition

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