Impact of Nutritional Intervention on Serum Level of Interferon Gamma and Insulin Resistance in Obese Women: Considerations during the COVID-19 Crisis

BACKGROUND: Obesity represents a major epidemic worldwide; it is accompanied by increased oxidative stress and reduction in immune efficacy. AIM: The objective was to assess the impact of a healthy balanced hypocaloric diet with two dietary supplements on obesity related metabolic disorders and interferon gamma production. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty obese women participated in the study that lasted for 8 weeks. They were divided into two groups, 30 subjects in each group, one group consumed a daily supplement in the form of cookies prepared mainly from corn flour, wheat germ and thyme, and the other consumed a blend composed mainly of barley flour, cocoa powder and ginger powder. All participants have followed a low caloric balanced regimen (1000-1200 KCal/day). Follow-up was performed with anthropometric measurements, dietary recall, and biochemical parameters. RESULTS: After intervention, the results showed a significant reduction in the anthropometric parameters, the obesity related metabolic disorders criteria with significant elevation in total antioxidant and interferon gamma. Positive significant correlations were detected between total antioxidant and interferon gamma and negative significant correlations were detected between interferon gamma with triglycerides, body mass index, percent body fat mass, and hip circumferences. CONCLUSION: All these issues have a very important role in decreasing the infection with covid-19.