Targeted Application of Functional Foods as Immune Fitness Boosters in the Defense against Viral Infection

Abstract

In recent times, the emergence of viral infections, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the monkeypox virus, and, most recently, the Langya virus, has highlighted the devastating effects of viral infection on human life. There has been significant progress in the development of efficacious vaccines for the prevention and control of viruses; however, the high rates of viral mutation and transmission necessitate the need for novel methods of control, management, and prevention. In recent years, there has been a shift in public awareness on health and wellbeing, with consumers making significant dietary changes to improve their immunity and overall health. This rising health awareness is driving a global increase in the consumption of functional foods. This review delves into the benefits of functional foods as potential natural means to modulate the host immune system to enhance defense against viral infections. We provide an overview of the functional food market in Europe and discuss the benefits of enhancing immune fitness in high-risk groups, including the elderly, those with obesity, and people with underlying chronic conditions. We also discuss the immunomodulatory mechanisms of key functional foods, including dairy proteins and hydrolysates, plant-based functional foods, fermentates, and foods enriched with vitamin D, zinc, and selenium. Our findings reveal four key immunity boosting mechanisms by functional foods, including inhibition of viral proliferation and binding to host cells, modulation of the innate immune response in macrophages and dendritic cells, enhancement of specific immune responses in T cells and B cells, and promotion of the intestinal barrier function. Overall, this review demonstrates that diet-derived nutrients and functional foods show immense potential to boost viral immunity in high-risk individuals and can be an important approach to improving overall immune health.

Keywords: COVID-19; boosting immune system; chronic disease; elderly; fermentates; functional food; health benefits; immune fitness; milk hydrolysates; obese; viral immunity.

Figure 1

Retail sales value of functional foods in Europe in 2021 [13]. Two-letter country abbreviations included for markets of interest. Adapted from [14].

Figure 2

Percentage hold of various regions of the worldwide functional food market size for 2021. Data obtained from Euromonitor International, a market research provider (2022) [13]. Created with Datawrapper.

Figure 3

Maintaining immune fitness. Good diet, social relationships, stress control, and not smoking or drinking all aid in maintaining a healthy immune system to enable the immune system to fight off pathogens and recognise harmless food antigens. The ability and resilience of the immune system to fight off and manage such challenges are encapsulated by the immune fitness of the individual. Hypo immune responses lead to the development of infections. Hyper immune responses lead to the development of allergy and autoimmune disease. Created with BioRender.com.

Figure 4

Summary of functional foods capable of boosting the immune system and inhibiting COVID-19 infection. Functional foods with properties capable of inhibiting viral infection and their key food sources. Arrows indicate increasing food component consumption to aid in preventing COVID-19 infection. Created using BioRender.com.