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Higher Adherence to the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Is Inversely Associated With Severity of Covid-19 and Related Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study Publisher



Zargarzadeh N1 ; Tadbir Vajargah K1 ; Ebrahimzadeh A2 ; Mousavi SM3 ; Khodaveisi H4 ; Akhgarjand C5 ; Toyos FMP6 ; Cerqueira HS7 ; Santos HO8 ; Taghizadeh M2 ; Milajerdi A2
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
  3. 3. Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Postgraduate Program, UNIGUACU, Porto Uniao, Brazil
  7. 7. School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  8. 8. School of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Uberlandia, Brazil

Source: Frontiers in Medicine Published:2022


Abstract

Background and Aims: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) has been associated with a decreased risk of developing a variety of chronic diseases that are comorbidities in COVID-19 patients. However, its association to the severity and symptoms of COVID-19 are still unknown. This study aimed to examine the association between adherence to the MD pattern and COVID-19 severity and symptoms in Iranian hospitalized patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 250 COVID-19 patients aged 18 to 65 were examined. We employed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to obtain data on dietary intake of participants in the year prior to their COVID-19 diagnosis. COVID-19 severity was determined using the National Institutes of Health's Coronavirus Disease 2019 report. Additionally, symptoms associated with COVID-19, inflammatory markers, and other variables were evaluated. The scoring method proposed by Trichopoulou et al. was used to assess adherence to the MD. Results: The participants' mean age was 44.1 ± 12.1 years, and 46% of them had severe COVID-19. Patients who adhered more closely to the MD had lower serum C-reactive protein levels (7.80 vs. 37.36 mg/l) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (14.08 vs. 42.65 mm/h). Those with the highest MD score were 77% less likely to have severe COVID-19 after controlling for confounding variables. The MD score was also found to be inversely associated with COVID-19 symptoms, including dyspnea, cough, fever, chills, weakness, myalgia, nausea and vomiting, and sore throat. Conclusion: Higher adherence to the MD was associated with a decreased likelihood of COVID-19 severity and symptoms, as well as a shorter duration of hospitalization and convalescence, and inflammatory biomarkers. Copyright © 2022 Zargarzadeh, Tadbir Vajargah, Ebrahimzadeh, Mousavi, Khodaveisi, Akhgarjand, Toyos, Cerqueira, Santos, Taghizadeh and Milajerdi.
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