Relationship Between Dietary Habits, Immunity, and Drug Effectiveness in Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Background: Dietary diversity may be associated with host health and recovery during infectious illness, although evidence from Pakistani outpatient populations remains limited. Objective: To examine associations between dietary diversity, recalled infection frequency, patient-reported medication response, and reported recovery duration among adults with common infectious illnesses. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 412 adults attending selected outpatient departments in Lahore, Pakistan. Dietary-diversity scores were categorized as low, moderate, or high. Recalled infection frequency during the preceding six months, perceived symptom response following prescribed medication, and reported recovery duration were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Categorical associations were evaluated using Pearson’s chi-square test, and crude odds ratios were calculated for high recalled infection frequency. Results: Low, moderate, and high dietary diversity were reported by 148 (35.9%), 176 (42.7%), and 88 (21.4%) participants, respectively. High recalled infection frequency occurred in 48.6% of the low-diversity group, 23.9% of the moderate-diversity group, and 9.1% of the high-diversity group (χ²=60.33; df=4; p<0.001; Cramér’s V=0.271). Compared with high dietary diversity, the crude odds of high infection frequency were greater for moderate diversity (OR=3.13; 95% CI: 1.40–7.01) and low diversity (OR=9.47; 95% CI: 4.28–20.98). Mean reported recovery duration was 9.1 days in the low-diversity group and 3.7 days in the high-diversity group. Conclusion: Higher dietary diversity was associated with fewer recalled infections and shorter reported recovery duration, but the cross-sectional design did not establish causality