Effects of select dietary supplements on the prevention and treatment of viral respiratory tract infections: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Introduction: Viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs) have been recognized as a global public health burden. Despite current theories about their effectiveness, the true benefits of dietary supplements on the prevention and treatment of viral RTIs remain elusive, due to contradictory reports. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary supplements on the prevention and treatment of viral RTIs.Areas covered: We systematically searched databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar through 4 March 2020, to identify randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effects of consuming selected dietary supplements on the prevention or treatment of viral RTIs.Expert opinion: Thirty-nine randomized controlled trials (n = 16,797 participants) were eligible and included. Namely, vitamin D supplementation appeared to improve viral RTIs across cohorts particulate in those with vitamin D deficiency. Among the evaluated dietary supplements, specific lactobacillus strains were used most commonly with selected prebiotics that showed potentially positive effects on the prevention and treatment of viral RTIs. Further, ginseng extract supplementation may effectively prevent viral RTIs as adjuvant therapy. However, longitudinal research is required to confirm these observations and address the optimal dose, duration, and safety of dietary supplements being publicly recommended.
['Shokri-Mashhadi|Nafiseh|N|', 'Kazemi|Maryam|M|0000-0001-6001-7208', 'Saadat|Saeed|S|', 'Moradi|Sajjad|S|0000-0003-0108-187X']
D000086382:COVID-19 D019587:Dietary Supplements D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal D006801:Humans D007778:Lactobacillus D005894:Panax D011794:Quercetin D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections D000086402:SARS-CoV-2 D014777:Virus Diseases D014807:Vitamin D D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency D047071:beta-Glucans
dietary supplements Viral respiratory tract infection systematic review COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2