By Dr. Randah Miqbil Alqurashi Assistant Professor, King Faisal University, delivered at the Global Forum 2020 Food Safety and Risk Assessment session.

1. GLOBAL FORUM2020
3 R D S A V I N G L I V E S S U S T A I N A B L Y:
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION IN THE HEALTH
SECTOR GLOBAL FORUM|2020 RIYADH
How Nutrition Can Help to Fight
Against COVID-19 Pandemic
Dr. Randah Miqbil Alqurashi
Assistant professor
Department of Food and Nutritional
Sciences
King Faisal University

2. GLOBAL FORUM 2020
Outlines
 Immunity system in human body.
 The micronutrient demands of the immune
system.
 Public awareness for preventing COVID-
19 (currant study).
 Guidelines to protecting our immune
system.

3. GLOBAL FORUM 2020
Are there 'Miracle' Foods or Supplements
That Can Prevent COVID-19?
Nutrition and COVID-19

4. GLOBAL FORUM 2020
The Immune
System
The immune system is one of the most
complex bodily systems, made up of a
network of cells, molecules, tissues and
organs all working together to protect the
body.
Aslani., et, 2016

5. GLOBAL FORUM 2020
Factor affect immunity system

6. GLOBAL FORUM 2020
Nutrition and COVID-19
The COVID-19 (also commonly called coronavirus) pandemic is
causing a lot of changes in the daily lives of people around the
world.
 Good nutrition is very important before during and after an
infection.
 World Health Organisation, healthy lifestyle makes all
body functions work better.
Having a healthy diet including lots of fruit and
vegetables is a key component of a healthy lifestyle .

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Stimulates T cell production and
subtype switching
Stimulates complement system
Stimulates phagocytes
Reduction in common cold symptoms
Reduction in infectious diarrhea (world-
wide)
Antioxidant/Inflammatory Control
Recommendation daily does 3-11mg/day
Micronutrients- Zinc

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Micronutrients- Selenium
Antioxidant effects
 Promotes production of limited reactive
oxygen species (ROS) to fight infections
Stimulates general immune responsiveness
 T and B cell activation
 Cytokine release
 Recommended daily: 20-55 mg/day

10. GLOBAL FORUM 2020
Micronutrients- Vitamin A
 Supports structure and function of mucosal
cells of eyes, lungs, gastrointestinal tract
 Promotes response to bacterial infections
 Affects growth and function of B cells
 Affects activation of T cells

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Vitamins B complex
B1- thiamin
Aid in antibody responses
B2- riboflavin
Aid in antibody responses
B3- niacin
B5- pantothenic acid
Aid in production and release of antibodies
B6- pyridoxine
Aids in T and B cell production
B7- biotin
B9- folic acid
Aids in T cell production and maturation
B12- cyanocobalamin
Promotes NK cell activity, aids in T and B cell production

12. GLOBAL FORUM 2020
Micronutrients- Vitamin
C
 Antioxidant effects
 Protects cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS) made by the body to control
infections
 May have anti-viral activity
 May aid in symptoms of common cold because of ROS function on surface of
airway and lung epithelium
 Improvement in both innate and adaptive immunity function
 Recommended: 75-90 mg/day

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Micronutrients- Vitamin D
 Necessary for phagocytic activity
 Limits inflammatory response promoted by specific
T cell subtypes
 Promotes wound healing
Supplementation
Sunlight (5-30 min, 2x per week)
Foods- Fish, liver, fortified foods
(milk, cheese, OJ)
Supplementation
Vitamins
Ergocalciferol (D2) or
Cholecalciferol (D3)
Recommended: 600-800 IU

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Antioxidant
Protects against cell damage from free
radicals
Affects innate and adaptive immunity.
Supplementation
Recommended: 15-30 IU/day
Micronutrients- Vitamin
E

15. GLOBAL FORUM 2020 Probiotics
Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria species
Strengthen gut barrier
Stimulate production of T cells
Stimulate production of antibodies
Must be ingested regularly for effects
Foods with probiotics: fermentation

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• Bioactive compounds
• Not traditional nutrients
• Have biologic activities (supporting immunity system,
reduce risk of cancer and CVD)
• Examples: Carotenoids (such as lutein,
zeaxanthin, lycopene, etc.);
• Phytochemicals (such as various phenolic
compounds -ellagic acid, quercetin, anthocyanins,
etc.)
Antioxidant-Rich foods

17. GLOBAL FORUM 2020
Are there 'Miracle' Foods or Supplements
That Can Prevent COVID-19?
Nutrition and COVID-19

18. GLOBAL FORUM 2020
No specific food or supplements can
prevent from catching COVID-19
But WHO encourages people to consume a
healthy balanced diet to support the
immune system.
Nutrition and COVID-19

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Eating Habits and Lifestyle
during COVID-19 Lockdown in
KSA
Public Awareness
Current Study

20. Eating Habits and Lifestyle
during COVID-19
Lockdown in KSA
• The aim of the study was to assess
eating habits and lifestyles during the
COVID-19 lockdown in KSA.
• Males and females (n=477) were
involved in this study.
• A cross-sectional study among adults in
the Saudi Arabia was conducted using
an online questionnaire between April
and May 2020.

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69%
31%
Healthy Food
Unhealthy Foods
Eating Habits and Lifestyle during
COVID-19 Lockdown in KSA
Eating Habits During COVID-19 Pandemic
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Disagree
Strongely disagree
Agree
Strongely agree
Increase the Chance to Follow a Healthy
Lifestyle During Lockdown

22. GLOBAL FORUM 2020
Eating Habits and Lifestyle during
COVID-19 Lockdown in KSA
Increase their knowledge and awareness
on healthy eating and food that support
immune system
29%
71%
No Yes
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Ministry of
Health, SFDA
Social Media Websites Others
Sources of information about health and
nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic

23. GLOBAL FORUM 2020
Eating Habits and Lifestyle during
COVID-19 Lockdown in KSA
74%
26%
5 portion of fruit and veg a day
Less than 5 portion
Portion of Fruit and Vegetables during COVID-19
Lockdown
83%
17% Homemade
meals
Fast-food
Significant increase Percentage consuming
homemade meals during pandemic and reduction
consumed fast-food

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Maintaining Immune Health in the Face of
COVID-19 and Future Viruses
 The gut microbiome (bacteria) has a major
influence on the immune system, including
inflammation.
 Eating a diet high in fruit and vegetables helps
to have a healthy gut.
 Vitamin D enhances immune function.
 Zinc has been shown to reduce infections.

25. GLOBAL FORUM 2020
Guidelines to protecting our immune system
WHO
 Be a healthy weight.
 Be physically active.
 Eat wholegrains, fruits, vegetables and beans.
 Limit fast foods.
 Limit red and processed meat.
 Limit sugar sweetened drinks.
 Do not rely on supplements.
 Breastfeed your baby, if you can.
For protection against COVID-19, following
hygiene rules is key and eating a balance of
healthy foods.

26. Saudi Food & Drug
Authority
&
National Nutrition
Committee
Saudi Healthy Plate

27. Conclusion
GLOBAL FORUM 2020
 Our immune system is influenced greatly by the quality and quantity of food we
eat.
 Good nutrition supports the body throughout the life course, from birth to old
age.
 No specific food, supplement or natural health product will prevent you from
catching COVID-19.
 No one food is recommended over another and eating a variety of foods will
help to maintain a healthy balanced diet.
 A balanced diet, including all food groups, supports an effective immune system
and may provide protection against infections, cancers and other diseases

28. GLOBAL FORUM2020
THANK YOU
ralqurashi@KFU.edu.sa
@RaNoOoD2011