Research groups around the world have directed their scientific efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. David Nieman, Appalachian State University professor of Biology and director of the Human Performance Lab at the North Carolina Research Campus published a review paper predicting an increased likelihood for ongoing infectious disease pandemics because the world's population is becoming older, more unfit and obese.
The paper, “Coronavirus Disease-2019: A tocsin to our aging, unfit, corpulent and immunodeficiency society,” will be published in the June edition of Journal of Sports and Health Sciences. Nieman examines in depth how regular moderate intensity physical activity reduces morbidity and mortality from respiratory illness. The Journal of Sport and Health Sciences (JSHS) is a peer-reviewed international, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the advancement of sport, exercise, physical activity and health sciences.
There are two strategies to reduce the risk for COVID-19 – mitigation activities and the adoption of lifestyle practices consistent with good immune health. Those at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 include older males, and people of all ages with obesity and underlying medical conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and chronic metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Mitigation measures protect older adults and those with underlying medical conditions, but lifestyle approaches such as physical activity and weight management will bolster immune defense.
Obesity impairs the body's ability to ward off and recover from viral infections. This condition can prolong virus shedding during the duration of illness, increase symptom severity, and encourage the evolution of mutated viruses. Aging leads to negative changes in immune function, a process termed immunosenescence. As a result, infectious disease is more likely and vaccines less effective among the elderly.
Nieman predicts that as the world's population becomes older and more obese, infectious disease pandemics spawned by novel pathogens will continue to inflict widespread morbidity and mortality. As a preventive measure, he encourages staying lean and fit throughout life. His studies indicate that 30 to 60 minutes of near-daily activity such as brisk walking stimulates the immune system to detect and destroy viruses. The result is a 25 to 50% reduction in risk for respiratory infections including the common cold, influenza and pneumonia.
“This is indeed a wake-up call, a tocsin, to the world that primary prevention countermeasures focused on health behaviors and hygiene demand our full attention and support,” says Nieman.
The underlying rationale of “immune preparedness” is a key research initiative being pursued by a group of investigators at the North Carolina Research Campus. The primary goal is to develop an immune preparedness test panel that can be applied at the population level in a practical manner, and is based on cutting edge technologies including proteomics, genomics and metabolomics.
Data used in Nieman's review paper: A study of almost 100,000 people in England and Scotland followed for an average of 9.4 years. This is strong data showing that people who are physically active in the population are at much lower risk of infectious disease mortality than people who are sedentary. Photo provided.
About Dr. David Nieman
Nieman is a leading researcher in the area of exercise and nutrition immunology at the Human Performance Lab at the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis, N.C. During his professional career, Nieman established that regular to moderate exercise lowers upper respiratory tract infection rates while improving immunosurveillance. He also showed that illness rates increase in athletes after running marathon races due to transient changes in immune function, and that carbohydrate and flavonoid ingestion function as nutritional countermeasures.
He has published more than 370 peer-reviewed publications in journals and books, authored nine books on health, exercise science and nutrition, and secured $10.6 million in research funding. In 2013, Nieman received the Honors and Citation award from the American College of Sports Medicine.
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About the Department of Biology
The Department of Biology is a community of teacher-scholars, with faculty representing the full breadth of biological specializations — from molecular genetics to landscape/ecosystem ecology. The department seeks to produce graduates with sound scientific knowledge, the skills to create new knowledge, and the excitement and appreciation of scientific discovery. Learn more at https://biology.appstate.edu.
About NCRC Human Performance Laboratory
The Human Performance Lab operated by Appalachian State University at the North Carolina Research Campus investigates unique nutritional products as countermeasures to exercise- and obesity-induced immune dysfunction, inflammation, illness and oxidative stress. Learn more at https://ncrc.appstate.edu.
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is home to 16 academic departments, one stand-alone academic program, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and unique location. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. There are approximately 6,100 student majors in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing Appalachian's general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.
June 15, 2020
By Ellen Gwin Burnette and Barclay Ann Blankenship
BOONE, N.C.
Dr. David Nieman publishes article on viral risks and outcomes of positive lifestyle practices that bolster immune defense
Dr. David Nieman, professor, Department of Biology and principal investigator, App State NCRC Human Performance Laboratory. Photo by Ellen Gwin Burnette.