The Effect of Antioxidants on COVID-19 Pneumonia: Managements and Future Strategies

Abstract: The outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus-2 (nCoV/SARS-CoV-2 2019), which was first reported in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, caused widespread panic among people around the world. But now, more than three years have passed since the outbreak of COVID-19, and the initial panic due to the unknown and rapid spread of this viral infectious disease has today given way to relative calm. There is currently no fully effective drug for this virus, but during the COVID-19 epidemic, some reports indicated that antioxidant compounds were good options for reducing symptoms in hospitalized patients. The aim of this mini-review is to analyze the current knowledge about the relationship between nutrition and antioxidants and the supportive role of these compounds on the immune system, and COVID-19 infection in order to develop appropriate dietary and nutritional programs to prevent infection with other new variants of this virus in the future. Although many review articles have been written about the role of antioxidants on COVID-19 infection, due to sometimes contradictory clinical and nutritional information in different articles, there is still uncertainty about whether antioxidant compounds really play a major role in reducing COVID-19 infections. The question persists: Can these compounds be used definitively to treat coronavirus infections? If the world were to be hit by such a dangerous epidemic again, how helpful would the results of studies conducted so far on antioxidant compounds be? Since no definitive treatment has been found for COVID-19 yet, proper nutritional selection through balanced meals and the use of proper hygiene methods in selecting, preparing, and storing food could likely be one of the most useful approaches to managing this disease or other pathogenic variants of this virus in the future. In a general conclusion, it can be stated that optimizing public health worldwide is a very urgent matter that must be considered in all circumstances. Public health management and control, even in situations other than dangerous viral epidemics, requires not only knowledge of medical and biological sciences but also all sciences related to lifestyle, social, and behavioral studies, including dietary habits and lifestyle. Changing your eating habits and choosing a healthy diet rich in nutrients, including antioxidants, can help strengthen your immune system and help you overcome diseases.