The Correlation of Plant-Based Diet with COVID-19 Severity and Symptoms among Individuals Recovered from the Disease

Background: COVID-19 is an infectious disease that has spread all over the world and has endangered health care system. Several studies have shown an association between Plant-based diets and the health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the association between Plant-based Diet Index (PDI) an...

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Main Authors: Fatemeh Almasi, Mohammad Nemati, Narges Izadi, Mohammad Mehdi Haghighat_Lari, Fateme Barforoush, Armin Ebrahimzadeh, Alireza Milajerdi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2025-03-01
Series:International Journal of Nutrition Sciences
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Online Access:https://ijns.sums.ac.ir/article_50554_0213c66e3184a4a8b2bc996f2797f410.pdf
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author Fatemeh Almasi
Mohammad Nemati
Narges Izadi
Mohammad Mehdi Haghighat_Lari
Fateme Barforoush
Armin Ebrahimzadeh
Alireza Milajerdi
author_facet Fatemeh Almasi
Mohammad Nemati
Narges Izadi
Mohammad Mehdi Haghighat_Lari
Fateme Barforoush
Armin Ebrahimzadeh
Alireza Milajerdi
author_sort Fatemeh Almasi
collection DOAJ
description Background: COVID-19 is an infectious disease that has spread all over the world and has endangered health care system. Several studies have shown an association between Plant-based diets and the health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the association between Plant-based Diet Index (PDI) and severity and symptoms of COVID-19.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 684 patients recovered from COVID-19 were included. Dietary intakes of subjects were assessed using a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire and PDI, healthful PDI (hPDI) and unhealthful PDI (uPDI). The outcomes such as severity of disease, symptoms and levels of inflammatory biomarkers were assessed through telephone interviews with the participants.Results: After adjusting for several confounders, participants at the highest quartile of PDI showed lower risks for hypoxia, duration of disease and hospitalization and a lower level of ESR. PDI score was negatively associated with risk of COVID-19 symptoms including fever, chill, weakness, myalgia, chest pain, headache, dizziness, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and anorexia. A greater hPDI score was associated with reduced risk of sever COVID-19, hypoxia, need to respiratory support, lower duration of disease, recovery, lower level of CRP and ESR. A higher uPDI score was associated with greater risk of severe COVID-19, need to respiratory support, duration of disease, higher level of CRP and ESR.Conclusion: We found that higher PDI was associated with lower risk of COVID-19 outcomes. Also, higher hPDI and lower uPDI scores were associated with reduced risk of sever COVID-19.
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spelling doaj-art-384fd3d836594f8bb9ebaaa5f39bdd722025-08-20T02:44:20ZengShiraz University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Nutrition Sciences2538-18732538-28292025-03-01101486110.30476/ijns.2024.104955.137750554The Correlation of Plant-Based Diet with COVID-19 Severity and Symptoms among Individuals Recovered from the DiseaseFatemeh Almasi0Mohammad Nemati1Narges Izadi2Mohammad Mehdi Haghighat_Lari3Fateme Barforoush4Armin Ebrahimzadeh5Alireza Milajerdi6Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Science, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IranDepartment of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranResearch Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Science, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IranResearch Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Science, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IranDepartment of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IranNutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranResearch Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Science, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IranBackground: COVID-19 is an infectious disease that has spread all over the world and has endangered health care system. Several studies have shown an association between Plant-based diets and the health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the association between Plant-based Diet Index (PDI) and severity and symptoms of COVID-19.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 684 patients recovered from COVID-19 were included. Dietary intakes of subjects were assessed using a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire and PDI, healthful PDI (hPDI) and unhealthful PDI (uPDI). The outcomes such as severity of disease, symptoms and levels of inflammatory biomarkers were assessed through telephone interviews with the participants.Results: After adjusting for several confounders, participants at the highest quartile of PDI showed lower risks for hypoxia, duration of disease and hospitalization and a lower level of ESR. PDI score was negatively associated with risk of COVID-19 symptoms including fever, chill, weakness, myalgia, chest pain, headache, dizziness, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and anorexia. A greater hPDI score was associated with reduced risk of sever COVID-19, hypoxia, need to respiratory support, lower duration of disease, recovery, lower level of CRP and ESR. A higher uPDI score was associated with greater risk of severe COVID-19, need to respiratory support, duration of disease, higher level of CRP and ESR.Conclusion: We found that higher PDI was associated with lower risk of COVID-19 outcomes. Also, higher hPDI and lower uPDI scores were associated with reduced risk of sever COVID-19.https://ijns.sums.ac.ir/article_50554_0213c66e3184a4a8b2bc996f2797f410.pdfplantdietsymptomscovid-19iran
spellingShingle Fatemeh Almasi
Mohammad Nemati
Narges Izadi
Mohammad Mehdi Haghighat_Lari
Fateme Barforoush
Armin Ebrahimzadeh
Alireza Milajerdi
The Correlation of Plant-Based Diet with COVID-19 Severity and Symptoms among Individuals Recovered from the Disease
International Journal of Nutrition Sciences
plant
diet
symptoms
covid-19
iran
title The Correlation of Plant-Based Diet with COVID-19 Severity and Symptoms among Individuals Recovered from the Disease
title_full The Correlation of Plant-Based Diet with COVID-19 Severity and Symptoms among Individuals Recovered from the Disease
title_fullStr The Correlation of Plant-Based Diet with COVID-19 Severity and Symptoms among Individuals Recovered from the Disease
title_full_unstemmed The Correlation of Plant-Based Diet with COVID-19 Severity and Symptoms among Individuals Recovered from the Disease
title_short The Correlation of Plant-Based Diet with COVID-19 Severity and Symptoms among Individuals Recovered from the Disease
title_sort correlation of plant based diet with covid 19 severity and symptoms among individuals recovered from the disease
topic plant
diet
symptoms
covid-19
iran
url https://ijns.sums.ac.ir/article_50554_0213c66e3184a4a8b2bc996f2797f410.pdf
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