The association between nutrient patterns and hospital stay duration and symptoms in COVID-19 in Iranian patients: cross-sectional study

BackgroundAn excessively reactive immune system results in the cytokine storm COVID-19. A healthy diet is essential to maintain the balance between the immune system and inflammatory and oxidative stress. Associations between single foods and nutrients and COVID-19 have been examined. However, no pr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Atieh Mirzababaei, Farideh Shiraseb, Azam Mohamadi, Mahya Mehri Hajmir, Sara Ebrahimi, Zeinab Zarrinvafa, Elham Kazemian, Amir Mehrvar, Khadijeh Mirzaei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1542449/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850239853457833984
author Atieh Mirzababaei
Atieh Mirzababaei
Farideh Shiraseb
Azam Mohamadi
Azam Mohamadi
Mahya Mehri Hajmir
Sara Ebrahimi
Zeinab Zarrinvafa
Elham Kazemian
Amir Mehrvar
Khadijeh Mirzaei
author_facet Atieh Mirzababaei
Atieh Mirzababaei
Farideh Shiraseb
Azam Mohamadi
Azam Mohamadi
Mahya Mehri Hajmir
Sara Ebrahimi
Zeinab Zarrinvafa
Elham Kazemian
Amir Mehrvar
Khadijeh Mirzaei
author_sort Atieh Mirzababaei
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundAn excessively reactive immune system results in the cytokine storm COVID-19. A healthy diet is essential to maintain the balance between the immune system and inflammatory and oxidative stress. Associations between single foods and nutrients and COVID-19 have been examined. However, no prior study has examined associations between nutrient patterns and COVID-19. This study assessed the link between nutrient patterns and the COVID-19 severity and length of hospital stay in Iranian adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 107 Iranian adults aged 20–60 years, who were admitted to Amir Alam Hospital in Tehran, Iran, due to COVID-19. Data on their symptoms were collected through a demographic questionnaire and verified against their hospital records. Three non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls were used to collect participants’ food and beverage intake. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to derive nutrient patterns.ResultA total of 95 Covid patients with a mean age of 46.2 years were included. Four major dietary patterns were identified using the Scree Plot chart, including high carbohydrate and high minerals pattern; high protein and high vitamins pattern; high fat pattern; and poor nutrient pattern. Adherence to the poor nutrient patterns was associated with a higher number of hospitalization days and lower appetite (p < 0.05). The poor dietary patterns were associated with an increased likelihood of headache, fever, and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Also, headaches were more common with adherence to the high-fat pattern (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe findings of this study show that a poor nutrient pattern is related to longer hospital stays and reduced appetite. It also connected to an increased likelihood of symptoms including headaches, fever, and respiratory distress syndrome. A strong association was found between respiratory distress syndrome, headaches, and a high-fat diet was found. Further studies with prospective designs are needed to better understand and validate these findings.
format Article
id doaj-art-7c5f1dab93b240bcaca2ec8e792a4ece
institution OA Journals
issn 2296-861X
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Nutrition
spelling doaj-art-7c5f1dab93b240bcaca2ec8e792a4ece2025-08-20T02:01:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-03-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15424491542449The association between nutrient patterns and hospital stay duration and symptoms in COVID-19 in Iranian patients: cross-sectional studyAtieh Mirzababaei0Atieh Mirzababaei1Farideh Shiraseb2Azam Mohamadi3Azam Mohamadi4Mahya Mehri Hajmir5Sara Ebrahimi6Zeinab Zarrinvafa7Elham Kazemian8Amir Mehrvar9Khadijeh Mirzaei10Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranImam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United StatesInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Nutrition, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranDepartment of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Orthopedics, Taleghani Hospital Research Development Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranBackgroundAn excessively reactive immune system results in the cytokine storm COVID-19. A healthy diet is essential to maintain the balance between the immune system and inflammatory and oxidative stress. Associations between single foods and nutrients and COVID-19 have been examined. However, no prior study has examined associations between nutrient patterns and COVID-19. This study assessed the link between nutrient patterns and the COVID-19 severity and length of hospital stay in Iranian adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 107 Iranian adults aged 20–60 years, who were admitted to Amir Alam Hospital in Tehran, Iran, due to COVID-19. Data on their symptoms were collected through a demographic questionnaire and verified against their hospital records. Three non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls were used to collect participants’ food and beverage intake. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to derive nutrient patterns.ResultA total of 95 Covid patients with a mean age of 46.2 years were included. Four major dietary patterns were identified using the Scree Plot chart, including high carbohydrate and high minerals pattern; high protein and high vitamins pattern; high fat pattern; and poor nutrient pattern. Adherence to the poor nutrient patterns was associated with a higher number of hospitalization days and lower appetite (p < 0.05). The poor dietary patterns were associated with an increased likelihood of headache, fever, and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Also, headaches were more common with adherence to the high-fat pattern (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe findings of this study show that a poor nutrient pattern is related to longer hospital stays and reduced appetite. It also connected to an increased likelihood of symptoms including headaches, fever, and respiratory distress syndrome. A strong association was found between respiratory distress syndrome, headaches, and a high-fat diet was found. Further studies with prospective designs are needed to better understand and validate these findings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1542449/fullnutrient patternsCOVID-19obesitysigns and symptomslength of hospital stay
spellingShingle Atieh Mirzababaei
Atieh Mirzababaei
Farideh Shiraseb
Azam Mohamadi
Azam Mohamadi
Mahya Mehri Hajmir
Sara Ebrahimi
Zeinab Zarrinvafa
Elham Kazemian
Amir Mehrvar
Khadijeh Mirzaei
The association between nutrient patterns and hospital stay duration and symptoms in COVID-19 in Iranian patients: cross-sectional study
Frontiers in Nutrition
nutrient patterns
COVID-19
obesity
signs and symptoms
length of hospital stay
title The association between nutrient patterns and hospital stay duration and symptoms in COVID-19 in Iranian patients: cross-sectional study
title_full The association between nutrient patterns and hospital stay duration and symptoms in COVID-19 in Iranian patients: cross-sectional study
title_fullStr The association between nutrient patterns and hospital stay duration and symptoms in COVID-19 in Iranian patients: cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed The association between nutrient patterns and hospital stay duration and symptoms in COVID-19 in Iranian patients: cross-sectional study
title_short The association between nutrient patterns and hospital stay duration and symptoms in COVID-19 in Iranian patients: cross-sectional study
title_sort association between nutrient patterns and hospital stay duration and symptoms in covid 19 in iranian patients cross sectional study
topic nutrient patterns
COVID-19
obesity
signs and symptoms
length of hospital stay
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1542449/full
work_keys_str_mv AT atiehmirzababaei theassociationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT atiehmirzababaei theassociationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT faridehshiraseb theassociationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT azammohamadi theassociationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT azammohamadi theassociationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT mahyamehrihajmir theassociationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT saraebrahimi theassociationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT zeinabzarrinvafa theassociationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT elhamkazemian theassociationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT amirmehrvar theassociationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT khadijehmirzaei theassociationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT atiehmirzababaei associationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT atiehmirzababaei associationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT faridehshiraseb associationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT azammohamadi associationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT azammohamadi associationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT mahyamehrihajmir associationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT saraebrahimi associationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT zeinabzarrinvafa associationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT elhamkazemian associationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT amirmehrvar associationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy
AT khadijehmirzaei associationbetweennutrientpatternsandhospitalstaydurationandsymptomsincovid19iniranianpatientscrosssectionalstudy