Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
(SARS-CoV-2) appeared at the end of 2019, causing a
worldwide pandemic. Most people experienced asymptomatic
or mild-to-moderate acute coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) symptoms; however, it was estimated that
around 15% of people progressed to a more severe form of
the disease requiring hospitalization, and approximately 5%
became critically ill 1. Although the acute phase of the disease
has been well described so far, less data is available on
the long-term outcomes 2. Variable terms and definitions are
still used to describe prolonged recovery or condition after
acute SARS-CoV-2 infection with infection sequelae, such
as “post-COVID-19 condition” or “long COVID condition”.
Long COVID represents a complex condition with different
prolonged symptoms. According to the definition given by
the World Health Organization (WHO), post-COVID-19
condition, also known as long COVID, occurs in individuals
with a history of probable or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection,
usually three months from the onset of COVID-19.
Symptoms last at least two months and cannot be explained
by an “alternative diagnosis” 3. Michelen et al. 4 conducted
the most comprehensive review of evidence on long COVID
to date. Their findings suggest that this multiorgan syndrome
is characterized by fatigue, weakness, malaise, breathlessness,
and concentration impairment, among other less frequent
symptoms. Symptoms of long-lasting COVID-19 sequelae
and complications have been reported worldwide. A
study from Italy showed that 87% of inpatients, who recovered
from COVID-19, had at least one of the symptoms,
even after 60 days 5. A study in the United States found the
prevalence of residual symptoms in 35% of patients treated
for COVID-19 on an outpatient basis within 14–21 days after
a positive test 6. Lopez et al. 7 reported that 80% of patients
with COVID-19 had long-term symptoms, including an estimate
for at least one symptom.
While the focus during the COVID-19 pandemic was
on the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection,
today, significant attention must be paid to the health status
of those who have recovered from COVID-19 or are still recovering
from it. Many symptoms and conditions of long
COVID, such as fatigue syndrome, sarcopenia, malnutrition,
and gut microbiota alteration, are closely related to nutrition.
On the other hand, the role of nutrition in the immune system’s
functioning is well documented today 8, 9. In this context,
it is essential to investigate and better understand the
role of nutrition in the prevention of the severe form of the
disease and improvement of the SARS-CoV-2 infection recovery.
In this article, we present symptoms and conditions
in patients with post-COVID-19 conditions closely related to
nutrition, and we consider possible nutritional interventions
for better outcomes.
