A new study has concluded that individuals following a vegetarian diet or those who only consume fish and seafood have a reduced chance of experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19 compared to meat-eaters. The study revealed that vegetarians experience a decrease in the likelihood of moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms by up to 73%, while those eating fish and seafood see a 59% reduction.
The British newspaper "Daily Mail" noted that previous studies had indicated a relationship between diet and the severity of COVID-19, as well as the duration of the infection, which the research team aimed to investigate in detail.
Based on research involving 2,884 frontline doctors and nurses exposed to the virus from July to September, a team from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, USA studied the relationship between diet and the severity of COVID-19.
The study revealed a clear link between avoiding meat and a decreased chance of severe COVID-19 symptoms. The team believes this may be due to the increase in vitamins, nutrients, and minerals in a vegetarian diet, which are essential for immune system health.
The study included volunteers who were intensely exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. The doctors and nurses worked in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the USA last summer and were part of the global healthcare market research network Globus.
### Study of Three Diets
Researchers examined three dietary patterns: a vegetarian diet, a diet rich in vegetables and fish, and a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. Among the study participants, 568 reported experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or were asymptomatic but tested positive, while 2,316 individuals stated they did not exhibit symptoms or tested positive for the virus.
Of the 568 individuals, 138 reported moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms, and 430 reported mild to moderate symptoms. The research team then studied several influencing factors, including age, ethnicity, medical history, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and physical activity level.
The researchers concluded that study participants who followed a vegetarian diet or consumed fish regularly had a lower likelihood of experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms compared to those who ate meat. In contrast, individuals adhering to a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet showed an increased incidence of moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms compared to vegetarians.
