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Bousquet J, Czarlewski W, Zuberbier T, Mullol J, Blain H, Cristol JP, De La Torre R, Le Moing V, Pizarro Lozano N, Bedbrook A, Agache I, Akdis CA, Canonica GW, Cruz AA, Fiocchi A, Fonseca JA, Fonseca S, Gemicioğlu B, Haahtela T, Iaccarino G, Ivancevich JC, Jutel M, Klimek L, Kuna P, Larenas-Linnemann DE, Melén E, Okamoto Y, Papadopoulos NG, Pfaar O, Reynes J, Rolland Y, Rouadi PW, Samolinski B, Sheikh A, Toppila-Salmi S, Valiulis A, Choi HJ, Kim HJ, Anto JM
Int Arch Allergy Immunol 182 (6) 489-495 [2020-12-22; online 2020-12-22]
There are large country variations in COVID-19 death rates that may be partly explained by diet. Many countries with low COVID-19 death rates have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented vegetables such as cabbage and, in some continents, various spices. Fermented vegetables and spices are agonists of the antioxidant transcription factor nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), and spices are transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 and vanillin 1 (TRPA1/V1) agonists. These mechanisms may explain many COVID-19 symptoms and severity. It appears that there is a synergy between Nrf2 and TRPA1/V1 foods that may explain the role of diet in COVID-19. One of the mechanisms of COVID-19 appears to be an oxygen species (ROS)-mediated process in synergy with TRP channels, modulated by Nrf2 pathways. Spicy foods are likely to desensitize TRP channels and act in synergy with exogenous antioxidants that activate the Nrf2 pathway.
PubMed 33352565
DOI 10.1159/000513538
Crossref 10.1159/000513538
pii: 000513538
pmc: PMC7900475