Association of dietary insulinemic potential with disease severity and symptoms in patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Aim

COVID-19 has threatened people's lives in world. Studies showed that level of insulin is related to function of immune system and level of inflammation in body. In this study we aimed to evaluate the association between dietary insulinemic potential and level of inflammatory biomarkers, severity and symptoms of COVID-19.

Methods

Participants of this cross-sectional study were 684 people who recovered from COVID-19. Dietary intake of participants was assessed using 168-item food frequency questionnaire during telephone interview, then dietary insulinemic index and load (DII and DIL) calculated for each participants. Data related to study outcomes, include levels of inflammatory biomarkers, disease symptoms, lung infection, saturation of peripheral oxygen, Respiratory Rate, need for respiratory support, duration of disease, hospitalization, recovery from disease and need for respiratory support and score of life satisfaction were collected through an interview with participants and review of their medical records.

Results

After controlling for confounders, participants in the highest quartile of DIL had a significantly higher risk of severe COVID-19 (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.01–7.04, P_trend = 0.035), risk of hospitalization (OR: 3.44, 95% CI: 2.27-7.64, P_trend > 0.001), fever (OR: 2.91, 95% CI: 8.08–1.05, P_trend = 0.042), chills (OR: 4.68, 95% CI: 1.77–12.37, P_trend = 0.002) and lower risk of weakness (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.10–0.74, P_trend = 0.012) and myalgia (OR:0.26, CI: 0.10–0.45, P_trend = 0.006) compared to the lowest quartile. In addition our findings showed a significant positive association between DII and risk of fever (OR: 1.71 95% CI: 2.84–1.03, P_trend = 0.049). Our finding failed to find a significand association between DII and risk of sever COVID-19 and hospitalization. Moreover we did not find significant association between DII/DIL and duration of disease, other symptoms and outcomes.

Conclusions

Our findings showed that higher DIL was associated with greater risk of sever COVID-19 and hospitalization. More detailed cohort studies are needed to confirm the findings.