The key role of zinc in elderly immunity: A possible approach in the COVID-19 crisis

Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
Poliana Guiomar de Almeida Brasiel

Abstract

The COVID-19 infection can lead to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), mainly affecting patients aged 60 and older. Preliminary data suggest that the nutritional status can change the course of the infection, and on the matter, zinc is crucial for growth, development, and the maintenance of immune function. In the absence of treatment for this virus, there is an urgent need to find alternative methods that can contribute to control of disease. The aim of this paper is to establish the relation between zinc and COVID-19. From the prior scientific knowledge, we have performed a review of the literature and examine the role of zinc in immune function in the infection by COVID-19. Our findings are that the zinc as an anti-inflammatory agent may help to optimize immune function and reduce the risk of infection. Zinc supplementation can be a useful strategy to reduce the global burden of infection in the elderly, there is a need the increased reporting to improve our understanding of COVID-19 and the care of affected patients.

Citations

Sep 30, 2020·Pharmaceuticals·Pooyan KhalighinejadA Dean Sherry
Dec 4, 2020·Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics·Kuldeep DhamaYashpal Singh Malik
Feb 26, 2021·Biological Trace Element Research·Amin GasmiGeir Bjørklund
Mar 21, 2021·Open Heart·James J DiNicolantonioJorge Barroso-Aranda
Apr 2, 2021·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·Jose L Domingo, Montse Marquès
Apr 22, 2021·International Immunopharmacology·Sima Heydarzadeh AslReza Jafari
May 8, 2021·Methods : a Companion to Methods in Enzymology·Ankur GuptaShailendra K Saxena
May 25, 2021·Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences·Bouzid Nedjimi
Aug 13, 2021·Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition·Maoping DuanTuo Zhang
Jul 21, 2021·Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA·Yu-Ju LaiCheng-Chang Chang

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