The link between nutrient intake and anthropometric indices with COVID-19 infection in pregnant women

OBJECTIVE: The incidence and severity of COVID-19 complications in pregnant women may be significantly influenced by their nutritional status. So, the present study aimed to investigate the association between nutrient intake and anthropometric indices with COVID-19 infection in pregnant women. METHODS: This case‑control study was conducted on 117 pregnant women infected with COVID-19 as the case group, and 126 non-infected pregnant women as the control group. Information on demographic, social, anthropometric and biochemical indicators was collected. In both groups, food intake data were collected using a valid food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) covering the previous year. RESULTS: Higher vitamin D levels were associated with reduced odds of COVID-19 (OR = 0.93, CI95%:0.89-0.99, P = 0.02), even after adjusting for age, underlying diseases, caloric intake, and levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). No significant associations were observed between weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and other dietary nutrients with the risk of COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with insufficient dietary vitamin D intake are suggested to be at a significantly higher risk of COVID-19. Therefore, ensuring adequate vitamin D consumption is essential. It is recommended to conduct further longitudinal investigations to obtain more definitive results, particularly among pregnant women.