Vitamins and trace elements in the prevention of infectious diseases in women of reproductive age

Shikh, E. V.; Makhova, A. A.; Prokofiev, A. B.; Nazarchuk, A. S.

The issue of increasing nonspecific immunity is becoming particularly relevant in the context of the spread of a new coronavirus infection SARS-CoV-2. Thus, there is question of supplementation with vitamins and micronutrients, especially in reproductive-aged women planning pregnancy, due to socio-economic aspects, geographical latitude, dietary habits, and increased needs associated with the epidemiological situation. The deficiency of certain micronutrients in the diet has been found to impair the chemical, structural and regulatory processes in the body, which can negatively affect the state of the immune system. Certain associations have been identified between sufficiency of micronutrients, the severity of the course and development of complications of COVID-19. Severe course of infection is associated with severe deficiency of vitamin D (<10 ng/ml). Vitamin D contributes to changing the macrophage phenotype from pro-inflammatory Th1 to anti-inflammatory Th2, which may reduce the risk of a cytokine storm. There was a statistically significant decrease in the level of inflammatory markers, including ferritin and D-dimer, a decrease in the risks of multiple organ failure, a tendency to reduce the need for ventilation, vascular damage in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome with parenteral use of high doses of ascorbic acid. The experimental studies have shown that cations Zn2+ inhibit the activity of SARS-coronavirus RNA polymerase by reducing its replication;this fact opens up prospects for the use of Zn2+ as an antiviral agent in the treatment of COVID-19. Vitamin E and selenium have effects that reduce the risk of infection: they increase the number of T cells, enhance the responses of mitogenic lymphocytes, increase the secretion of IL-2 cytokines, and stimulate the activity of natural killer cells. The causative agent influences beta-carotene which accelerates the immune response of the body by increasing the activity of macrophages. Conclusion. The strategies for the prevention of COVID-19 provide for the intake of vitamin and mineral complexes containing vitamins D, A, E, zinc, selenium. The optimal intake of micronutrients largely determines the protection of a person from the effects of negative environmental factors including biological agents, namely microbes and viruses. © A group of authors, 2021.