ReviewClinical nutrition ESPEN2021
Strengthening the immunity of the Swiss population with micronutrients: A narrative review and call for action.
Review in Clinical nutrition ESPEN, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 28 citations in OpenAlex.
- Plasma levels of zinc, selenium, and copper among incarcerated men in Switzerland.International journal of public health · 2026Article
- Comparative Bioavailability of DHA and EPA from Microalgal and Fish Oil in Adults.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- The Role of Vitamins, Magnesium, and Trace Elements in COVID-19 Treatment and Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation: An Updated Overview.Current medicinal chemistry · 2025Review
- Micronutrient bioavailability: concepts, influencing factors, and strategies for improvement.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Review
- The dynamic linkage between covid-19 and nutrition: a review from a probiotics perspective using machine learning and bibliometric analysis.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Article
- Content of Essential Trace Elements in the Hair of Residents of the Caspian Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan Who Recovered from COVID-19.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Antiviral Potential of Plants against COVID-19 during Outbreaks-An Update.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Prevalence of Micronutrient Deficiencies in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: An Observational Cohort Study.Nutrients · 2022Observational
- Immunonutrients involved in the regulation of the inflammatory and oxidative processes: implication for gamete competence.Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics · 2022Review
- Response to Singh and Singh.Nutrition & diabetes · 2022Article
- Influence of Nutritional Intakes in Japan and the United States on COVID-19 Infection.Nutrients · 2022Article
- Dietary ω-3 intake for the treatment of morning headache: A randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in neurology · 2022Article
- The Role of Diet and Gut Microbiota in Regulating Gastrointestinal and Inflammatory Disease.Frontiers in immunology · 2022Review
- Relationship between Vitamin D Status and Antibody Response to COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination in Healthy Adults.Biomedicines · 2021Article
- Consumption of Food Supplements during the Three COVID-19 Waves in Poland-Focus on Zinc and Vitamin D.Nutrients · 2021Article
- Putative Role of Vitamin D for COVID-19 Vaccination.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Review
- Physical Activity and Nutritional Influence on Immune Function: An Important Strategy to Improve Immunity and Health Status.Frontiers in physiology · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe enormous health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has refocused attention on measures to optimize immune function and vaccine response. Dietary deficiencies of micronutrients can weaken adaptive immunity. The aim of this review was to examine links between micronutrients, immune function and COVID-19 infection, with a focus on nutritional risks in subgroups of the Swiss population.
methodsScoping review on the associations between selected micronutrients (vitamins D and C, iron, selenium, zinc, and n-3 PUFAs) and immunity, with particular reference to the Swiss population. These nutrients were chosen because previous EFSA reviews have concluded they play a key role in immunity.
resultsThe review discusses the available knowledge on links between sufficient nutrient status, optimal immune function, and prevention of respiratory tract infections. Because of the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, controlled intervention studies of micronutrients in the context of COVID-19 infection are now underway, but evidence is not yet available to draw conclusions. The anti-inflammatory properties of n-3 PUFAs are well established. In Switzerland, several subgroups of the population are at clear risk of nutrient deficiencies; e.g., older adults, multiple comorbidities, obesity, pregnancy, and institutionalized. Low intakes of n-3 PUFA are present in a large proportion of the population.
conclusionThere are clear and strong relationships between micronutrient and n-3 PUFA status and immune function, and subgroups of the Swiss population are at risk for deficient intakes. Therefore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a complement to a healthy and balanced diet, it may be prudent to consider supplementation with a combination of moderate doses of Vitamins C and D, as well as of Se, Zn and n-3 PUFA, in risk groups.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.