In order to strengthen body immune system against Coronavirus, one can take Vitamin C, Vitamin E , and Omega fatty acid 3. Lemon is a very cheap and easily available source of vitamin C throughout the world.The other natural sources of vitamin C include orange, strawberries, papaya , guava, grapefruit, Kiwi, cauliflower, broccoli etc.

I am a bit surprised that the topic of micronutritions is not mentioned more as a strategy to reduce serious symptoms. For example if Vitamin D, zink and selenium status of patients is optimal, the body is more prepared to handle the effects of the virus. In Sweden it has been observed that six out of now 20-30 deaths related to Covid-19 were of Somalian origin. The explanations discussed are that they are not properly informed due to lack of knowledge of native language, the live many people close together of different generations, and a generally low health status, cultural differences (i.e. eating with hands from the same bowl for example). What has not been discussed is that it is well known that their Vitamin D status is generally very low. People from Somalia living in Sweden with covering clothes, living indoor, in a country close to the arctic circle in March will certainly have a very bad Vitamin D status that might worsen the obtained symptoms of Covid-19.

I recommend immuno-modulators like BCG vaccine to stimulate non specific immunity

India follows simple principle of balance of nutrient intake and physical activity. The nutrient balance is carried by adding herbs to our daily routine vegetables and Yoga is best form of physical activity. These practices are more than sufficient to boost immunity at community level. Please read my paper on "Diet and COVID-19) at www.ijfans.org)

Yes I agree with Ravinder sir, Prebiotics are dietary fibers that can exert direct effects on the immune system. In India we follow these diet formulation.

Links given will help to know about immune strength by proper prebiotic diets.

Role of probiotics and prebiotics in immunomodulation http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2018.04.006

In India, many people take "Chyavanprash" , an Ayurvedic preparation, to boost immunity.

What are your thoughts on what can be done simply at the population level to increase immunity to protect against this virus?

in fact, according to WHO it is not possible to protect themselves from virus following a specific diet or by taking nutritional supplements, and we cannot prefer a type of food over another, and hygiene steps remain the best way to prevent.

However, according to the ASPEN guidelines, the advice that must be emphasized is to follow a healthy and balanced diet access to nutrients such as folic acid, iron, selenium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B6, B12, vitamin D, and vitamin C .

please read our review on COVID-19 and nutrition, review of available evidence.

Article Covid-19 and Nutrition: Review of Available Evidence

Salima - Please note that we can not negate effects of diets on immunity. Our knowledge may not be good. But diet plays a very positive role in immune system. We can look at studies done among large population based different groups, where on the one side the people having limited access to foods and on the other hand people buying organic foods.

Ravinder.. I know, healthy balanced diet play an a important role in our immunity, but i talk about COVID-19 there is no studies till now.

Yes we need to carry out a good case-control clinical trial to find out effect of such drugs on immunity.

1. Prevention: vitamin D levels above 30 ng/ml and hopefully 40 ng/ml.

2. During: take extra D to promote cathelicidin and autophagy.

3. Prevention: vitamin A, 5-7K IU. No supplemental carotene.

4. During: Take high-dose vitamin A, as if treating measles in children.

5. Prevention: selenium, 100 mcg selenite daily.

6. Prevention: selenium, 200 mcg selenocysteine weekly.

7. During: double the dose for the duration. For ebola, quadruple dose.

8. Prevention: vitamin C roughly 10x-30x RDA, 1-2 grams orally. Split.

9. During: push vitamin C in proportion to the severity of infection.

This includes use of liposomal vitamin C for the duration.

10. During: if oral is insufficient, medium-dose IV C. 6 grams 4x daily.

11. During: if medium-dose IV-C is insufficient, high-dose IV-C.

12. Prevention: copper- and zinc-rich foods.

13. During: lozenge zinc, nebulized zinc, timed-release oral zinc.

14: During: transdermal copper applied through non-GI route.

15. During: apply transdermal copper on skin over veins for IV.

16. Prevention: evaluate electrolytes and K+ (serum and RBC).

17. During: monitor serum K and/or urine K losses.

18. Prevention: practice dietary intermittency. Flirt with ketosis.

19. During: Never give D5W. Allow high beta-oxidation and mild ketosis.

20. Prevention: assess coagulation tendencies.

21. During: take nattokinase at home, low mol wt heparin if hospitalized.

I think that pretty much covers most of what I'm aware of.

Simple measures like frequent consumption of turmeric, ginger, garlic, omega-3 fatty acids, and hot water drinking.

You can notice this link and it gives a good answer to your questions, which is entitled:

How to boost your immune system during the COVID-19 pandemic

https://www.mdlinx.com/article/how-to-boost-your-immune-system-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/6GxvKGdUM347AWRCTr4UAb

A balanced diet, regular physical exercise, and sound sleep might help in strengthening the immune system. Each and every food item has it's recommended dietary allowance (RDA), any intake excess of RDA might not be helpful.

Innate immunity can be boosted by natural means: e regular exposure to sunlight for 30 to 60 minutes and vitamin D supplementation are two of them. While a balance diet , especially multiple micronutrients are also important together with mental and physical we-being and certain amount of daily physical activities.

There are over 200 clinical research publications on V COVID and vitamin D. Except two, all others (99%) strongly supporter, important role of vitamin D adequacy in prevention of COVID-19 syndrome and prevention of complications and deaths when treated during the early stages of COVID-19. However, because of the urgency to get serum 25(OH)D concentration elevated, need higher doses of vitamin D than routinely used.

It is too late to give even very high doses when someone admitted to the ICU with complications. However, partially activated form, calcifediol seems to be effective even in those persons.

Innate immunity is essential for overcoming COVID-19; vitamin D deficiency does that. More research papers on “COVID 19 and vitamin D” are on the following RG site:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sunil-Wimalawansa/research

Having alert immune system, prevent getting symptomatic COVID-19 and prevent complications and deaths.

But vitamin D is not the panacea.

Kind regards

Thank you, Sunil, for your well articulated reply. Indeed, the evidence for vitamin D to optimize the immune system is undeniable, with the main caveat being that giving it too late, or giving too little, has little benefit. Even if Covid-19 had never been a problem, low vitamin D due to our increasingly indoor lifestyle needed to be addressed. Covid-19 simply revealed what a terrible problem it can be to have a poorly tuned immune system due to a lack of vitamin D.

Regular low intensity exercises like calisthenics, yoga, stretching, Suryanamaskar, low intensity weights, TheraBand, breathing exercises etc are also effective in boosting immune response. Keep exertion low - 13 points on RPE. 60-70% THR.

Almost all the experts have suggested the excellent remedies and I do support each n every expert as right from all the intakes in the form of vitamins to minerals as well as macro and micro nutrients also the exercises have been covered and this is one of the good question I came across when we read about Covid19

Clearly the two modifiable risk factors that can be improved the easiest are to increase vitamin D levels so that the immune system is less likely to be disregulated and to ensure that blood sugars do not rise to 140. For more on vitamin D, check out the links on http://vitaminDforAll.org and more recent prospective studies. An interesting study was conducted in Cape Coast, Ghana, demonstrating that educating the public on health improvement via the radio was highly effective in causing behavior improvements during the Covid-19 pandemic. Motivated citizens increased their exercise, decreased alcohol consumption and smoking, and improved their diets.

Saah, F.I.; Amu, H.; Seidu, A.-A.; Bain, L.E. Health Knowledge and Care Seeking Behaviour in Resource-Limited Settings amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study in Ghana. PLOS ONE 2021, 16, e0250940, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0250940.

Vitamin D should be at the top of everyone’s list. D3 and sunlight do not produce the active form of this vitamin (it’s really a hormone). Magnesium is a required cofactor for the two hydroxylations (liver and kidney) required to produce the active form. If the patient exhibits any signs of magnesium deficiency such as cramps, constipation, migraines, palpitations, etc., magnesium citrate (most bioavailable supplement) should be considered. Pulse D therapy after diagnosis is also beneficial.

Impact of daily high dose oral vitamin D therapy on the inflammatory markers in patients with COVID 19 disease (20 May 2021)

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90189-4

Herbal and antioxidant therapy as a majour booster of immunity -https://www.researchgate.net/post/Herbs-medicinal_use

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Your_favourite_food_as_Anti-Oxidant-Let_us_discuss_under_this_Pandemic_Situation_of_Covid19_Modified

Currently, zinc is being associated with mucormycosis? Any research data?