Major metabolic and metabolomic approaches of dietary therapy in the control of inflammatory obesity processes in COVID-19: a concise systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity stands out as a multifactorial disease that can cause several public health problems. Currently, more than 30% of the world's population is overweight or obese. By 2020, it is estimated that over 60% of the world population will be overweight or obese. It has been postulated that a healthy nutritional status promotes immune function and can prevent the onset of a severe inflammatory process and severe infections, especially in times of pandemics such as COVID-19. The optimal immune response depends on proper diet and nutrition to keep the infection under control. Objective: This study analyzed the main interactions of dietary therapy in the control of obesity and its comorbidities, especially meta-inflammation. Methods: This study followed a systematic review model. The search strategy was performed in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, using scientific articles from 2009 to 2021. The low quality of evidence was attributed to case reports, editorials, and brief communications, according to the GRADE instrument. The risk of bias was analyzed according to the Cochrane instrument. Results and Conclusion: 105 studies were analyzed and submitted to eligibility analysis, and then 42 high to medium quality studies were selected. Biases did not compromise the scientific basis of the studies. Research has shown that unbalanced dietary patterns, such as the Western diet, rich in simple sugars, refined carbohydrates, saturated and trans-fatty acids, lead to chronic inflammatory responses, increased fat deposition, and future comorbidities associated with overweight and obesity. In addition, some nutrients have important effects in decreasing the inflammatory response and in metabolic restoration, reducing oxidative stress. Therefore, adequate dietary interventions for the management of overweight and obesity are needed, especially starting early in children and adolescents for healthy growth, preventing comorbidities in adulthood.