Vegetarian Diet Tied to Lower COVID-19 Incidence

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 12, 2024.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Jan. 12, 2024 -- A vegetarian diet is associated with a lower incidence of COVID-19 infection, according to a study published online Jan. 9 in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.

Júlio César Acosta-Navarro, M.D., Ph.D., from Universidade de Sao Paulo in Brazil, and colleagues examined whether there is an association between a plant-based or vegetarian diet and a lower incidence of COVID-19 infection and severity in those infected compared to an omnivorous diet. The analysis included 702 participants with sociodemographic characteristics, dietary information, and COVID-19 outcomes between March and July of 2022.

The researchers found that when adjusting for important confounders, including body mass index, physical activity, and preexisting medical conditions, the plant-based diet and vegetarian group had lower odds of incidence of COVID-19 infection (odds ratios, 0.61 and 0.61, respectively) compared with the omnivorous group. There was no association seen between self-reported diets and COVID-19 severity or duration.

"These dietary patterns may be considered protective against COVID-19 infection," the authors write. "In light of these findings and findings of other studies and because of the importance of identifying factors that can influence the incidence of COVID-19, we recommend the practice of following plant-based diets or vegetarian dietary patterns."

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2024-01-13 02:15

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords