A Review of the Role Micronutrient Status in the Elderly Plays in Their Immune Response to Viral Respiratory Infections and the Potential Compromising Effects Medications Might Cause

The Impact ◽

Global Population ◽

Healthy Immune System ◽

The elderly are a growing proportion of the global population. They are more susceptible to non-communicable diseases and respiratory viral diseases like influenza and covid19, which may lead to increased levels of morbidity and mortality than those of a younger generation. It is also reported that co-morbidities, especially diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease contribute significantly to the prognosis with these types of infections. That the immune system operates in a less efficient way as an individual ages, is now well understood and likely contributes significantly to this situation. The role of certain micronutrients in maintaining a healthy immune system is well recognised and demonstrated to play an important role both in preventing and controlling infection. However, for a number of reasons many elderly individuals have a less than optimal intake of many of the micronutrients that support the immune system. This review examines the contributory roles an aging immune system, suboptimal intake of micronutrients, comorbidities and the impact of the intake of medications typically used to treat them can play in the outcome of viral respiratory infections. It identifies the need for supplementation, especially in the elderly to support the immune system.

Probiotics in Treatment of Viral Respiratory Infections and Neuroinflammatory Disorders

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25214891 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (21) ◽

pp. 4891

Author(s):

Roghayeh Shahbazi ◽

Hamed Yasavoli-Sharahi ◽

Nawal Alsadi ◽

Nafissa Ismail ◽

Chantal Matar

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Influenza Virus Infection ◽

Mental Illnesses ◽

Host Immune System ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Inflammation is a biological response to the activation of the immune system by various infectious or non-infectious agents, which may lead to tissue damage and various diseases. Gut commensal bacteria maintain a symbiotic relationship with the host and display a critical function in the homeostasis of the host immune system. Disturbance to the gut microbiota leads to immune dysfunction both locally and at distant sites, which causes inflammatory conditions not only in the intestine but also in the other organs such as lungs and brain, and may induce a disease state. Probiotics are well known to reinforce immunity and counteract inflammation by restoring symbiosis within the gut microbiota. As a result, probiotics protect against various diseases, including respiratory infections and neuroinflammatory disorders. A growing body of research supports the beneficial role of probiotics in lung and mental health through modulating the gut-lung and gut-brain axes. In the current paper, we discuss the potential role of probiotics in the treatment of viral respiratory infections, including the COVID-19 disease, as major public health crisis in 2020, and influenza virus infection, as well as treatment of neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis and other mental illnesses.

Probiotics/ prebiotics in viral respiratory infections: implication for emerging pathogens

Recent Patents on Biotechnology ◽

10.2174/1872208315666210419103742 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

Author(s):

Zahra Heidari ◽

Amir Tajbakhsh ◽

Seyed Mohammad Gheibi-Hayat ◽

Afagh Moattari ◽

Vahid Razban ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

System Response ◽

Emerging Pathogens ◽

Global Challenge ◽

Secondary Infections ◽

The Impact ◽

Background: Viral respiratory infections could result in perturbation of the gut microbiota due to a probable cross-talk between lungs and gut microbiota. This can affect the pulmonary health and the gastrointestinal system. Objective: This review aimed to discuss the impact of probiotics/ prebiotics and supplements on the prevention and treatment of respiratory infections, especially emerging pathogens. Methods: The data were searched were searched in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Google Patents, and The Lens-Patent using keywords of probiotics and viral respiratory infections in the title, abstract, and keywords. Result: Probiotics consumption could decrease the susceptibility to viral respiratory infections, such as COVID-19 and simultaneously enhance vaccine efficiency in infectious disease prevention through the immune system enhancement. Probiotics improve the gut microbiota and the immune system via regulating the innate system response and production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, treatment with probiotics contributes to the intestinal homeostasis restitution under antibiotic pressure and decreasing the risk of secondary infections due to viral respiratory infections. Probiotics present varied performances in different conditions; thus, promoting their efficacy through combining with supplements (prebiotics, postbiotics, nutraceuticals, berberine, curcumin, lactoferrin, minerals, and vitamins) is important. Several supplements reported to enhance the probiotics’ efficacy and their mechanisms as well as probiotics related patents are summarized in this review. Using nanotechnology and microencapsulation techniques can also improve probiotics efficiency. Conclusion: Given the global challenge of COVID-19, probiotic/prebiotic and following nutritional guidelines should be regarded seriously. Additionally, their role as an adjuvant in vaccination for immune response augmentation needs attention.

The lung–gut axis during viral respiratory infections: the impact of gut dysbiosis on secondary disease outcomes

Mucosal Immunology ◽

10.1038/s41385-020-00361-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Valentin Sencio ◽

Marina Gomes Machado ◽

François Trottein

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Bacterial Infections ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Critical Role ◽

Good Health ◽

Disease Outcomes ◽

And Function ◽

The Impact ◽

AbstractBacteria that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract are essential for good health. The gut microbiota has a critical role in pulmonary immunity and host’s defense against viral respiratory infections. The gut microbiota’s composition and function can be profoundly affected in many disease settings, including acute infections, and these changes can aggravate the severity of the disease. Here, we discuss mechanisms by which the gut microbiota arms the lung to control viral respiratory infections. We summarize the impact of viral respiratory infections on the gut microbiota and discuss the potential mechanisms leading to alterations of gut microbiota’s composition and functions. We also discuss the effects of gut microbial imbalance on disease outcomes, including gastrointestinal disorders and secondary bacterial infections. Lastly, we discuss the potential role of the lung–gut axis in coronavirus disease 2019.

PT103 Involvement of the Immune System in the Development of Sub-Acute Ventricular Dysfunction During Acute Viral Respiratory Infections

Global Heart ◽

10.1016/j.gheart.2016.03.501 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. e143-e144

Author(s):

E. Vazquez-Garza ◽

G. Garcia-Rivas ◽

G. Torre-Amione

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Ventricular Dysfunction ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Microbiota Modulating Nutritional Approaches to Countering the Effects of Viral Respiratory Infections Including SARS-CoV-2 through Promoting Metabolic and Immune Fitness with Probiotics and Plant Bioactives

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8060921 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 921 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Tanvi Shinde ◽

Philip M Hansbro ◽

Sukhwinder Singh Sohal ◽

Peter Dingle ◽

Rajaraman Eri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Immune System ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Mechanistic Study ◽

Time Lags ◽

Immune Functions ◽

Viral respiratory infections (VRIs) can spread quickly and cause enormous morbidity and mortality worldwide. These events pose serious threats to public health due to time lags in developing vaccines to activate the acquired immune system. The high variability of people’s symptomatic responses to viral infections, as illustrated in the current COVID-19 pandemic, indicates the potential to moderate the severity of morbidity from VRIs. Growing evidence supports roles for probiotic bacteria (PB) and prebiotic dietary fiber (DF) and other plant nutritional bioactives in modulating immune functions. While human studies help to understand the epidemiology and immunopathology of VRIs, the chaotic nature of viral transmissions makes it difficult to undertake mechanistic study where the pre-conditioning of the metabolic and immune system could be beneficial. However, recent experimental studies have significantly enhanced our understanding of how PB and DF, along with plant bioactives, can significantly modulate innate and acquired immunity responses to VRIs. Synbiotic combinations of PB and DF potentiate increased benefits primarily through augmenting the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate. These and specific plant polyphenolics help to regulate immune responses to both restrain VRIs and temper the neutrophil response that can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This review highlights the current understanding of the potential impact of targeted nutritional strategies in setting a balanced immune tone for viral clearance and reinforcing homeostasis. This knowledge may guide the development of public health tactics and the application of functional foods with PB and DF components as a nutritional approach to support countering VRI morbidity.