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Low Zinc Levels at Admission Associates with Poor Clinical Outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Background: Zinc is an essential micronutrient that impacts host–pathogen interplay at infection. Zinc balances immune responses, and also has a proven direct antiviral action against some viruses. Importantly, zinc deficiency (ZD) is a common condition in elderly and individuals with chronic diseas...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Vogel-González, Marina, Talló-Parra, Marc, Herrera-Fernández, Víctor, Pérez-Vilaró, Gemma, Chillón, Miguel, Nogués, Xavier, Gómez-Zorrilla, Silvia, López-Montesinos, Inmaculada, Arnau-Barrés, Isabel, Sorli-Redó, Maria Luisa, Horcajada, Juan Pablo, García-Giralt, Natalia, Pascual, Julio, Díez, Juana, Vicente, Rubén, Güerri-Fernández, Robert
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7914437/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33572045
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu13020562
Descripción
Sumario:Background: Zinc is an essential micronutrient that impacts host–pathogen interplay at infection. Zinc balances immune responses, and also has a proven direct antiviral action against some viruses. Importantly, zinc deficiency (ZD) is a common condition in elderly and individuals with chronic diseases, two groups with an increased risk for severe severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. We hypothesize that serum zinc content (SZC) influences COVID-19 disease progression, and thus might represent a useful biomarker. Methods: We ran an observational cohort study with 249 COVID-19 patients admitted in Hospital del Mar. We have studied COVID-19 severity and progression attending to SZC at admission. In parallel, we have studied severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) replication in the Vero E6 cell line modifying zinc concentrations. Findings: Our study demonstrates a correlation between serum zinc levels and COVID-19 outcome. Serum zinc levels lower than 50 µg/dL at admission correlated with worse clinical presentation, longer time to reach stability, and higher mortality. Our in vitro results indicate that low zinc levels favor viral expansion in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells. Interpretation: Low SZC is a risk factor that determines COVID-19 outcome. We encourage performing randomized clinical trials to study zinc supplementation as potential prophylaxis and treatment with people at risk of zinc deficiency.