Mixed
Adherence to a healthful plant-based diet pattern is associated with a statistically significant reduction in both the risk of contracting COVID-19 and the severity of the disease.
Adopting a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (high healthful plant-based diet score) is associated with a lower risk of getting COVID-19 and a significantly reduced risk of severe outcomes. This benefit appears to be especially important for individuals in areas with higher socioeconomic deprivation, suggesting that improving access to healthy foods is a key public health strategy.
Compared with individuals in the lowest quartile of the diet score, high diet quality was associated with lower risk of COVID-19 (HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.88-0.94) and severe COVID-19 (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.47-0.74).
Why this rating
Large prospective cohort (n=592,571) with robust statistical adjustment, but relies on self-reported diet and symptom-based algorithms rather than randomized controlled trials.
Source
Diet quality and risk and severity of COVID-19: a prospective cohort study
Jordi Merino et al. · Gut · 2021
DOI 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325353
Related findings · Mixed
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