COVID-19: the Potential Role of Nutritional Deficiencies, Global Climatic Changes, and Immune System Dysfunction

Aims: Climate change may weaken the human immune system. Nutrient deficiency also reduces the ability to fight infections, which is a major cause of immune system deficiencies. Climate change influences food security and, in turn, enhances the prevalence of malnutrition globally. The purpose of the present study was to accumulate evidence indicating the role of climate changes, food insecurity, and weakened immune systems in the COVID-19 pandemic. Information & Methods: This review study was conducted using the keywords Covid-19, pandemics, epidemics, climate change, micronutrients, the immune system, and a search for domestic and international databases. Findings: Significant associations were found between the unpredictable occurrence of new zoonotic pathogens and reduced immunity, micronutrient malnutrition, and global climate crisis. Conclusion: Lack of integrative health care strategies may play a major role in viral epidemics. The evidence indicates that climate change and food shortage can debilitate the immune system and increase the risk of new epidemics.