It may not be directly related but Zinc is important for sound development. It plays a crucial role in the regulation of the immune system, wound healing, blood coagulation, thyroid function, and much more.
Yes. Zinc is an antiviral nutrient which can prevent viral replication as well as regulating inflammation in the body.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01712/full
All 'key' nutrients (i.e. essential to immune function, growth and cognition) are essential to "good health". It's always dangerous to single out individual nutrients as potential silver bullets in relation to defined diseases - especially diseases that we still know so little about. What ends up happening is the supplement industry goes into overdrive and many people not deficient in nutrient X start spending finite resources on more and more of that nutrient which is then excreted from the body. Zinc and selenium were proposed as solutions to HIV/AIDS back in the 1980s, and lots of science was focused on that question, but only fully-trialed ARTs were actually effective at defeating the disease.
Patrick Webb
Dear sir,
Thank you for your valuable opinion..I am fully agreed that all nutrients are very important for our healthy life..
Mohammad Hossein Razizadeh
Dear sir,
Thank you for your very important answer..
Not directly but yes zinc and other micronutrients help to build immunity and hence provide protection against infection.
I suppose all micronutients are essential for proper immunity. But vitamin D seems to be crucial for mitigating corona virus infection and preventing fatal outcome. Look at the European Nordic countries with a year round foodspiking program and extremely low death rates.
Dear Anita
Zinc has protective effects for infections by many mechanisms. These include, regulation of immunity, arrangement of redoz system and maintaining of tissue barriers, i.e. respiratory epithelium. Therefore, zinc deficiency may facilitate Covid-19 infection. Interestingly, high risk population for Covid-19 are also known as population to have low zinc levels. It has been suggested in literature that nutritional supplemetations may have a role in prophylaxis against Covid-19.
For further reading: Nutrients. 2020 Aug 7;12(8):2358. and Front Immunol. 2020 Jul 10;11:1712.
Yes. Please see the RG links below.
Article The Potential Impact of Zinc Supplementation on COVID-19 Pathogenesis
Article Potential Role of Zinc Supplementation in Prophylaxis and Tr...
Please also go through the following RG links.
Article Zinc as nutritional intervention and prevention measure for ...
Article COVID-19 Pandemic: Can Maintaining Optimal Zinc Balance Enha...
Article Can Zn Be a Critical Element in COVID-19 Treatment?
Worldwide estimates indicate lower adverse outcomes from COVID-19 in children, adolescents, and women. On the other hand, Zinc deficiency in children, adolescents, women, vegetarians, and alcoholics is widespread.
Preprint Assessing the Role of Zinc in COVID-19 Infections and Mortal...
The importance of the trace element zinc for the development and function of the immune system across all kinds of species has been proven in numerous studies . As zinc deficiency results in altered numbers and dysfunction of all immune cells, subjects with suboptimal zinc state have an increased risk for infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancer . In addition to malnutrition, risk groups for zinc deficiency include the elderly and patients with various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, which will be discussed in detail later in the article . As mild zinc deficiency is largely sub-clinical, it is unnoticed in most people. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) assumes that at least one third of the world population is affected by zinc deficiency . The fact that zinc deficiency is responsible for 16% of all deep respiratory infections world-wide provides a first strong hint on a link of zinc deficiency with the risk of infection and severe progression of COVID-19 and suggests potential benefits of zinc supplementation.
zinc is essential to preserve natural tissue barriers such as the respiratory epithelium, preventing pathogen entry, for a balanced function of the immune system and the redox system, zinc deficiency can probably be added to the factors predisposing individuals to infection and detrimental progression of COVID-19.
Article Potential Role of Zinc Supplementation in Prophylaxis and Tr...
During the current corona pandemic, new therapeutic options against this viral disease are urgently desired. Due to the rapid spread and immense number of affected individuals worldwide, cost-effective, globally available, and safe options with minimal side effects and simple application are extremely warranted. This review will therefore discuss the potential of zinc as preventive and therapeutic agent alone or in combination with other strategies, as zinc meets all the above described criteria. While a variety of data on the association of the individual zinc status with viral and respiratory tract infections are available, study evidence regarding COVID-19 is so far missing but can be assumed as was indicated by others and is detailed in this perspective, focusing on re-balancing of the immune response by zinc supplementation. Especially, the role of zinc in viral-induced vascular complications has barely been discussed, so far. Interestingly, most of the risk groups described for COVID-19 are at the same time groups that were associated with zinc deficiency. As zinc is essential to preserve natural tissue barriers such as the respiratory epithelium, preventing pathogen entry, for a balanced function of the immune system and the redox system, zinc deficiency can probably be added to the factors predisposing individuals to infection and detrimental progression of COVID-19. Finally, due to its direct antiviral properties, it can be assumed that zinc administration is beneficial for most of the population, especially those with suboptimal zinc status.
Deficiency in zinc has associations with delayed growth in children, as well as increased risk of infection. It is also a significant risk factor for the development of pneumonia, which can be a consequence of COVID-19.
Vitamin and mineral supplements cannot cure COVID-19
Micronutrients, such as vitamins D and C and zinc, are critical for a well-functioning immune system and play a vital role in promoting health and nutritional well-being. There is currently no guidance on the use of micronutrient supplements as a treatment of COVID-19.
WHO is coordinating efforts to develop and evaluate medicines to treat COVID-19.
During the current corona pandemic, new therapeutic options against this viral disease are urgently desired. Due to the rapid spread and immense number of affected individuals worldwide, cost-effective, globally available, and safe options with minimal side effects and simple application are extremely warranted. This review will therefore discuss the potential of zinc as preventive and therapeutic agent alone or in combination with other strategies, as zinc meets all the above described criteria. While a variety of data on the association of the individual zinc status with viral and respiratory tract infections are available, study evidence regarding COVID-19 is so far missing but can be assumed as was indicated by others and is detailed in this perspective, focusing on re-balancing of the immune response by zinc supplementation. Especially, the role of zinc in viral-induced vascular complications has barely been discussed, so far. Interestingly, most of the risk groups described for COVID-19 are at the same time groups that were associated with zinc deficiency. As zinc is essential to preserve natural tissue barriers such as the respiratory epithelium, preventing pathogen entry, for a balanced function of the immune system and the redox system, zinc deficiency can probably be added to the factors predisposing individuals to infection and detrimental progression of COVID-19. Finally, due to its direct antiviral properties, it can be assumed that zinc administration is beneficial for most of the populat