Smoking and vegetarianism could be protective against SARS-CoV-2 infection: CSIR survey

Smoking and vegetarianism could be protective against SARS-CoV-2 infection: CSIR survey

Subject: Health

Context: CSIR survey in different parts of India conducted on its employee has claimed Smoking and vegetarianism could be ‘protective’ against SARS-CoV-2 infection, however, causes have not been established.

Concept:

• The aim of survey is to build a medical cohort to give long-term perspective on the malaises that affect Indians, and determine if such a data bank can be used to help with predicting, say, the onset of diabetes or cardiovascular disease
• The survey was to note prevalence of COvid-19 virus.
• It found nearly 10% of 10,400 were infected.
• Most common symptom was fever and 1/4^th also lost smell or taste.
• Class bias in infection as Public transport users, persons engaged as security or housekeeping staff, non-smokers and meat consumers recorded higher seroprevalence (the level of a pathogen in a population, as measured in blood serum.) compared to those who worked from home or has access to private vehicle.
• Seroprevalence was highest for AB blood group, followed by B, O and then A.
• Key neutralising antibodies waned after infection but were present even after 6 months.
• It found smoking and vegetarian habit were more protective against SARS-COV-2 virus.
• An association between smoking and protection against SARS-CoV-2, or lower odds of infection by the virus, has also been reported in studies in China and France

About CSIR:

• It is the largest research and development (R&D) organization in India since 1942.
• It is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and it operates as an autonomous body through the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• Its president is Prime Minister of India (Ex-officio president).
• Union Minister of Science and Technology (Ex-officio) is its vice-president.
• It has a governing Body headed by Director General and advisory board consisting of 15-members.
• CSIR covers a wide spectrum of science and technology: from radio and space physics, oceanography, geophysics, chemicals, drugs, genomics, biotechnology and nanotechnology to mining, aeronautics, instrumentation, environmental engineering and information technology.
• It provides significant technological intervention in many areas with regard to societal efforts which include environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, farm and non-farm sectors. Further, CSIR’s role in S&T human resource development is noteworthy.
• It is pioneer of India’s intellectual property movement.