[Nutrition, microbiota and respiratory infections: key aspects of their interaction].

Introduction

respiratory infections (RI) have experienced a rebound following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, constituting a major public health problem. Diet and nutritional status are determining factors in the competence of the immune system, where the gut-lung axis has been identified as a key mechanism in regulating the immune response against these processes.

Objectives

to analyze the scientific evidence on the role of diet and microbiota in the prevention and evolution of respiratory infections.

Methods

narrative review of recent scientific literature on nutrients, dietary patterns, gut microbiota, and their relationship with respiratory immunity.

Results

various nutrients such as fiber, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols, as well as the use of probiotics, modulate the gut microbiota and promote the production of metabolites, especially short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), with immunomodulatory effects. These mechanisms contribute to improving the pulmonary immune response and reducing the incidence and severity of RI.

Conclusions

a balanced and high-nutrient-density diet, rich in prebiotic and probiotic compounds, can contribute to strengthening the immune response and decreasing vulnerability to respiratory infections.