Study Title
Plant-based diets, pescatarian diets, and COVID-19 severity: A population-based case–control study in six countries.
Principal Investigator
Hyunju Kim, Casey M. Rebholz, Sheila Hegde, Christine LaFiura, Madhunika Raghavan, John F. Lloyd, Susan Cheng, Sara B. Seidelmann.
Affiliation
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Envision Health Partners, Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Stamford Hospital.
Start Date
July 2020.
End Date
September 2020.
Study Objective
To evaluate the association between self-reported diets, including plant-based and pescatarian diets, and the severity of COVID-19 symptoms in healthcare workers.
Short Abstract
This study involved healthcare workers from six countries and found that individuals who followed plant-based or pescatarian diets had significantly lower odds of experiencing moderate-to-severe COVID-19 symptoms compared to those who followed other diets. No significant associations were observed between dietary patterns and the duration or incidence of COVID-19. The findings suggest that plant-based diets may offer protection against severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Study Design
A population-based case–control study involving healthcare workers across six countries, using a web-based survey.
Population
Healthcare workers from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and the USA with substantial exposure to COVID-19 patients.
Sample Size
2,884 participants (568 cases and 2,316 controls).
Inclusion Criteria
Healthcare workers with substantial exposure to COVID-19 patients in clinical settings.
Exclusion Criteria
Healthcare workers with infrequent exposure to COVID-19 patients or whose medical specialty/practice setting was not considered high-risk.
Intervention/Exposure
Self-reported diets over the past year, categorized as plant-based, pescatarian, or low carbohydrate/high protein diets.
Outcome Measures
- Severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
- Incidence and duration of COVID-19 illness.
Funding Source
Funded by Survey Healthcare Globus and supported by grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Collaborating Institutions
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Envision Health Partners, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Stamford Hospital.
Ethics Approval
Approved by the Western Institutional Review Board at Stamford Hospital.
Publication Status
Published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, June 2021.
Keywords
Plant-based diets, pescatarian diets, COVID-19, case-control study, healthcare workers.
Data Collection Methods
A web-based questionnaire covering dietary habits, demographic information, and COVID-19 symptom severity.
Primary Data Availability
Data available upon request.
Contact Information
Dr. Sara B. Seidelmann,