Dietary mineral intakes predict Coronavirus-disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence and hospitalization in older adults
Najmeh Seifi, Hossein Bahari, Somayeh Ghiasi Hafezi, Farzaneh Ghotbani, Ahmadreza Afzalinia, Gordon A Ferns, Ehsan Mosa Farkhani, Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan
BMC Nutrition, doi:10.1186/s40795-024-00821-5
Background The aim of this study was to determine the association between dietary mineral intake and Coronavirus-disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and its associated hospitalization. Methods This cohort study utilized the MASHAD study population, which comprised individuals aged 35-65. Upon recruitment in 2007, dietary intake was documented using a validated 65-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Data on COVID-19 PCR test results was collected from all relevant medical centers in Mashhad between February 2020 and June 2022. The regression model included dietary minerals and employed the backward variable selection method, along with advanced data analysis techniques.
Results The final analysis involved 1957 participants, including 193 COVID-19-positive patients. The mean age was 49.71 and 50.28 years in the COVID-19-positive and negative groups, respectively (p = 0.12). Dietary intakes of magnesium, iron, and potassium were notably lower in COVID-19-positive patients (P < 0.05). Following adjustments for age and sex, dietary iron remained significantly associated with COVID-19 incidence (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.98). Furthermore, a statistically significant relationship was observed between dietary zinc and hospitalization due to COVID-19 (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.51-0.93). In dynamical system models, intakes of calcium, zinc, and iron below the cut-offs of 1138, 9.7, and 8.17 mg/day, respectively, were linked to an increased risk of COVID-19 incidence.
Conclusion Higher dietary iron and zinc intake are associated with decreased risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization, respectively.
Authors' contributions N.S. and M.Gh. designed study. A.A. and H.B. collected data. EM.F. and S.Gh. analyzed data. F.Gh, H.B. and N.S. wrote the main manuscript text. G.A.F. and M.Gh. did critical revision. All authors reviewed the manuscript.
Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate All experiments were performed in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki and Mashhad University of Medical Sciences ethical guidelines and regulations. The research protocol was approved by the School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (IR.MUMS.MEDICAL.REC.1398.228). All participants signed a written inform consent before participating in the study.
Consent for publication Not applicable.
Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests.
Publisher's Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
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