Low blood zinc concentrations in patients with poor clinical outcome during SARS-CoV-2 infection: is there a need to supplement with zinc COVID-19 patients?

J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2021 Oct;54(5):997-1000. doi: 10.1016/j.jmii.2021.01.012. Epub 2021 Feb 13.

Abstract

Among 275 patients with COVID-19, we found that median blood zinc level was significantly lower in patients with poor clinical outcome (N = 75) as compared to patients with good clinical outcome (N = 200) (840 μg/L versus 970 μg/L; p < 0.0001), suggesting that zinc supplementation could be useful for patients with severe COVID-19.

Keywords: Azithromycin; Chloroquine; Clinical outcome; SARS-COV-2; Severe; Zinc.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Azithromycin / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Chloroquine / therapeutic use
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • SARS-CoV-2 / drug effects*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult
  • Zinc / administration & dosage*
  • Zinc / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Azithromycin
  • Chloroquine
  • Zinc