Dietary Modulation of Gut Microbiota in Overweight/Obese Adolescents and COVID-19 Infection

The adolescence period is the transition from childhood to adulthood. Adolescents are vulnerable to many biomedical exposures, such as a low-quality diet, fewer fruits and vegetable intake, low physical activities, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption; and non-biomedical aspects such as mental depression, parental distress, and household income, which were known to be associated with increased risk of many health outcomes. Obese adolescents are vulnerable to many infections, poor disease outcomes and complications, and lower antibody response to vaccinations. Studies that have investigated Covid-19 incidence in overweight and obese individuals are still scarce. Adolescence is also a sensitive period to microbial change or dysbiosis due to practicing poor diet, low physical activity, inadequate sleep, stress, and substance use (smoking, drugs, and alcohol). Despite the existing prevalence of SARS-COV-2 infections is increasing in adolescents, and the vaccine program is not prioritized in this population, making the prevention strategy for SARS-COV-2 infection may become less effective in this population. Besides, low-quality diet and lifestyle habits and family cluster transmission at home are often not fully addressed in the policy. These factors may be the contributors to the potential highest COVID-19 exposure for children and adolescents. Since exposure among adolescents is linked to serious adverse health effects, effective interventions to improve nutritional outcomes and reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection will provide substantial long-term returns. However, such interventions for adolescents in Indonesia and globally are lacking. This study is a randomized clinical trial (RCT) and placebo parallel controlled study. The research will be conducted in junior and senior high schools in Jakarta, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. In light of COVID-19 outbreak, if face-to-face activities are permitted by (1) national government (Indonesian Ministry of Health), (2) local government (DKI Jakarta), (3) the university, (4) Data Safety Monitoring Board, and (5) by consent of the subject, then the activities need to be strictly adjusted with the COVID-19 prevention measures for both personnel and subjects. All personnel and subjects who will be involved in the activities are required to fill out the COVID-19 symptom screening form prior to the visit and have been vaccinated with a complete dose.