Important to know
14/10/2020
The Swiss population does not eat a healthy diet and its immune systems are weakened. This is a disadvantage in the defence against Covid-19.

People over 65 are also considered to be at risk of Covid-19 because their immune systems are generally less robust. Senior citizens generally have less resistance to the onslaught of corona viruses than young people with a more intact immune system. An expert panel of researchers from the ETH and the University of Zurich, the University Hospital of Lausanne and the Lung League, in collaboration with the Swiss Society for Nutrition (SGE), has therefore been interested in how food supplements could be used to strengthen the immune system in the fight against Covid-19. The panel of experts is concerned that the infection and death rate in Switzerland is higher than in countries with a comparable socio-economic status such as Germany, Austria or Denmark.

That is why the researchers took a close look at the role of the immune system in the fight against Covid-19. This is because a lack of important nutrients can weaken the immune system. The research focused on vitamins, trace elements and omega-3 fatty acids. Recent research shows that patients who are ill with Covid-19 have very low levels of some micronutrients. For example, low levels of vitamin D in the blood have been found in patients with severe disease and increased mortality. Vitamin D also plays an important role in reducing the risk ofb respiratory infections. In the coming darker months with less sunshine, vitamin D deficiency will increase for many people. 

The Swiss do not stick to the food pyramid.

Scientific data show that the Swiss population is not optimally supplied with important food groups. They do not follow the recommendations for a balanced diet, i.e. the well-known Swiss food pyramid. As a result, the majority of Swiss people lack not only vitamin D, but also omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and zinc - especially among older people. 

This is why the expert panel recommends a dietary supplement for adults. These can close the existing nutrient gap in the population, especially in people over 65, and thus protect the immune system. According to the Swiss Society for Nutrition, anyone who does not follow the food pyramid would do well to take 50 micrograms of vitamin D a day. It also recommends 200 milligrams of vitamin C, 500 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids, 50 to 100 micrograms of selenium and 10 milligrams of zinc per day per person. However, the rules of hygiene and spacing must still be observed.