COVID, the Gut, and Nutritional Implications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current literature, recommendations, and practice guidelines on the nutritional management of and implications associated with COVID-19 infection. RECENT FINDINGS: Particular attention should be paid to the screening, prevention, and treatment of malnutrition in critically ill individuals with COVID-19 infection given the significant risk for complications and poor outcomes. Extrapolation of existing literature for the nutritional support in the critically ill patient has demonstrated early enteral nutrition is safe and well-tolerated in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. SUMMARY: Futures studies should focus on the long-term nutritional outcomes for patients who have suffered COVID-19 infection, nutritional outcomes/recommendations for special populations with COVID-19, nutritional outcomes based on the current recommendations and guidelines for nutrition therapy, and the role for micronutrient supplementation in COVID-19 infection.