There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the very fabric of modern society, from what used to concern us daily, to how we interacted with colleagues, family, and friends. It is safe to say that we currently deal with situations that were previously unimaginable or were just possible in movies or TV series. Life made a 180º flip in which we have been forced to adapt to different lifestyles and to adjust our daily routines to fit into this unreal movie excerpt. Nevertheless, not only has the pandemic shaped how we structure our lifestyles and forge habits; research has advanced in the last years in such a way that a special spotlight has been cast on how we care for our bodies and minds. These breakthroughs in health and science along with the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have encouraged the adoption of a prevention culture among people to attain healthy aging.
When epidemiological data first reached the general audience, most patterns and trends pointed towards people that maintained a healthier lifestyle, for instance through a balanced diet and fitness regime, developed less severe symptoms compared with people that cared less for their habits. This jumpstarted an interest among the general population to modify their daily routines in hope of being better prepared in case of infection and strengthened the preexisting interest for a global approach to holistic health and well-being. As stated by IRi, 48% of millennials and Gen X claimed they consumed vitamins before the pandemic, looking to strengthen their immune system. However, regimes and daily routines are changing, and 57% of respondents of another IRi survey expect to change their behaviors for the long-term regarding health and well-being. This indicates that consumers are adopting healthy habits to achieve healthy aging and strengthen their efforts regarding disease prevention. Although senior consumers are the main market for “healthy aging” products and services, there is a particular market demand by younger demographics for nutritional products and preventative care (Innova Market Insights, 2021).
Diets, vitamins & supplements
According to a survey made in 2020 by Innova Market Insights, 68% of senior consumers were concerned about their health due to COVID-19. This triggered a spike in supplement consumption and changes in diets with the intent of decreasing the risk of severe COVID-19 infection. An unhealthy diet could lead to changes in inflammatory markers, and therefore induce systemic inflammation, while a deficient diet may impair the immune system and an inhibited performance when facing infection (Tavakol et al., 2021), (Lange and Nakurama, 2020). Focusing specifically on vitamins, several sources claim that they have a direct impact on the functionality of the innate and adaptive immune responses, thus contributing to a proper immune system function. Vitamin A and D have received particular interest throughout the years due to their role in immune system regulation (Mora et al., 2008). Vitamin D may have an inhibitory effect on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and prevent the development of pneumonia. The enhancement of immune responses has also been attributed to the consumption of probiotics given the fact that they can participate in the activation of multiple immune mechanisms and play a role in the immune response against viral respiratory infections (Lange and Nakurama, 2020). Additionally, the role of Vitamin C in immunomodulation has also been studied due to its beneficial effects on the innate and adaptive immune system and its potential role in preventing and treating respiratory and systemic infections (Carr and Maggini, 2017). An April 2021 study from King’s College London stated that multivitamins, omega 3, probiotics, and Vitamin D had a positive role in the prevention of COVID-19. However, more tests and research must be done to draw conclusions, given the fact that it was based on observational evidence.
Moderate exercise
On the other hand, fitness has also received attention in the last years and its importance has also been boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic. IRi reported that 35% of consumers started 2021 with the intent of exercising more and 41% stated that they incorporated regular exercise into their routines to support immunity. Moderate-intensity exercise has been linked with reducing the probability, severity, and duration of upper respiratory infections, specifically viral infections. It also induces immunomodulation and contributes to the enhancement of immune responses, which are crucial in the battle against COVID-19 infection. Paradoxically, intense and excessive exercise has been linked to having an adverse effect. Long periods of exercise along with high and excessive stamina requiring training intervals suppresses the immune response and leads to complication of infections and diseases (Lange and Nakurama, 2020). Moreover, moderate exercise contributes to a healthy mental state through various and diverse physiological and biochemical processes and helps to prevent anxiety, depression, stress, post-traumatic disorder, all of which have had an increase in incidence since the beginning of the pandemic (Mikkelsen et al., 2017).
The adoption of a healthy lifestyle and the modification of daily routines have been part of the modern, holistic approach to health and wellness. Nevertheless, 2020 introduced an unexpected player in the game. COVID-19 accelerated and endorsed the consumption of vitamins and supplements, but there is still a need for more scientific evidence. Moreover, moderate exercise also received even more attention to maintain a healthy immune system and support mental health. Lastly, this change in habits and routines also skyrocketed the purchase of supplements and the demand for products with healthy aging claims and will still be on the rise leading to an increase in life expectancy and overall well-being.
- Carr, A. C., & Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and immune function. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211.
- Mikkelsen, K., Stojanovska, L., Polenakovic, M., Bosevski, M., & Apostolopoulos, V. (2017). Exercise and mental health. Maturitas, 106, 48–56.
- Mora, J. R., Iwata, M., & Von Andrian, U. H. (2008). Vitamin effects on the immune system: vitamins A and D take centre stage. Nature Reviews Immunology, 8(9), 685–698.
- Lange, K. W., & Nakamura, Y. (2020). Lifestyle factors in the prevention of COVID-19. Global Health Journal.
- Tavakol, Z., Ghannadi, S., Tabesh, M. R., Halabchi, F., Noormohammadpour, P., Akbarpour, S., … & Reyhan, S. K. (2021). Relationship between physical activity, healthy lifestyle and COVID-19 disease severity; a cross-sectional study. Journal of Public Health, 1–9.
This article was written by Karen Sanchez, Biotech Engineer and R&D Leader at Ragasa.
