Google searches for nutrients including vitamins and zinc rise during lockdowns

13 Oct 2020 --- An analysis of Google Trends has given insight into how COVID-19 has impacted consumers’ interest in various nutrients. Researchers found a correlation between infection rates and search terms, including “vitamin C,” “zinc,” “immune” and “garlic.” Food security was also of major interest, although regional differences were observed.

“Government policies always come too late. Google Trends tell us the economy is getting worse as people start to worry about food availability,” Jung-Su Chang of Taipei Medical University in Taiwan and an author of the study tells NutritionInsight.

She argues that the government needs to plan ahead and prepare for the post-COVID-19 era. “If we still can’t control the pandemic, then the economy will take its toll on food availability, especially for the most vulnerable groups.”The researchers looked at how the popularity of various search terms rose and fell in line with COVID-19 cases (Source: Nutrients).

Capturing the “hot topics”
The team of researchers used Google Trends to obtain worldwide relative search volumes (RSVs) covering a timeframe from June 1, 2019, to April 27, 2020. The relationships between daily confirmed cases and RSVs between December 31, 2019, and April 15, 2020, were measured.

The RSV curves showed increased interest in multiple keywords related to dietary and lifestyle behaviors during the COVID-19 lockdown period in March and April 2020.

Chang explains that the search terms capture the “hot topics” occurring around the time, as well as people’s nutritional beliefs. She notes that search increases for “vitamin D” and “zinc” occurred after it was reported that US President Trump was being treated with these nutrients. 

Regional variation
Immune-related nutrients, herbs and foods had some of the strongest correlations with COVID-19 cases, with vitamin C leading the way. 

This association was strongest in Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries. The top countries were the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Jamaica and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

Meanwhile, European countries were more likely to search for “vitamin D and coronavirus,” with Hungary leading the way. The UK came in second place, which is notable in light of the government’s latest consideration of the vitamin. 

Meanwhile, Central or South American and Caribbean consumers were the most likely to be looking up “zinc and coronavirus.” 

Other popular search terms included “garlic,” “turmeric” and “herb,” all of which were the most popular in Caribbean and African countries. 

Chang explains that garlic contains allicin, which impacts immune modulation and may have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial functions. 

“In some regions, people believe that garlic is a natural remedy that can boost immunity, hence, against the coronavirus. Westerners may search for vitamins to protect themselves, but vitamins are expensive and less available in developing countries. Hence, developing countries tend to search for natural herbals as a remedy to boost their immunity against the viruses,” she details. There were major regional differences in terms of popular search terms (Source: Nutrients).  

A negative correlation
As COVID-19 cases went up, searches for omega 3 went down in an interesting case of negative correlation. 

Chang notes that omega 3 fatty acids are well-known for anti-inflammatory effects as well as lipid regulation, but it is not promoted for immune modulation.

“During the pandemic, people are less concerned about chronic diseases like stroke and cardiovascular diseases. Instead, they are looking at how they can enhance their own immunity to protect against COVID-19 infection, as good immunity means a good chance for survival.”

Food security concerns
Another notable connection was with food security, as “food shortage,” “food bank” and “free food” were all commonly searched.  

While concerns existed across all continents, countries like the US, UK and New Zealand, which have existing charitable food organizations, were more likely to be searching for food banks. 

Meanwhile, countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the UAE, which are less equipped with national food charity organizations, had a higher tendency to search for free food. 

The overall spikes in food-security related searches during the spring are in line with expert observations. 

In March, both the UK and the US took steps to ensure that vulnerable children stay fed even out of school, although some organizations warned that these measures would not be comprehensive. 

This week, 108 UK experts highlighted the continued risks to children’s nutrition during COVID-19. 

Meanwhile, a report from Ceres 2030 detailed that COVID-19 was pushing the world “off-track” to achieve the UN’s zero hunger goal by 2030. Spring lockdowns led to peaks in nutrition-related search terms (Source: Nutrients).

Other lifestyle shifts
The researchers also looked into search terms related to dietary behaviors – like delivery and restaurant – and outdoor-related behavior such as fitness and gym. 

During the lockdown, there was a shift toward indoor behavior-related terms such as “Netflix,” “recipe” and “cake.” Meanwhile, outdoor-related terms like “hotel,” “cinema” and “park” decreased.

Although interest in “gym” decreased, interest in “exercise,” “outdoor” and “plant” increased in March and April 2020. 

In May, an expert at Arla Foods Ingredients shared how the lockdowns had an impact on sports nutrition as gyms around the world shut down. 

The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance also weighed in on the peaks and troughs for industry.

Going back to normal
Despite the conversation about a potential “new normal,” Chang expects that the shifts observed in the study will not be sustained. 

“In general, it is extremely difficult to change one’s behavior, but the lockdown restricted our movements and, thus, our routine daily lives. Because the behavior changes were not based on free will, I don’t think they will last for long. People’s behavior will go back to normal once the pandemic is gone.”

In the short-term, the way these trends evolve depends on whether the government is able to control the spread of COVID-19, she says. 

“If the government fails to control the virus as is happening in most countries now, the social distancing or lockdown would not just affect food behavior, but also nutrition status but also the economy. Food shortages will continue or worsen if unemployment increases,” she warns. 

By Katherine Durrell