COVID-19 Severity Is Associated With Poor Dietary Selenium Intake Among Young Adults in North Carolina

OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a global public health emergency, due to the ensuing economic burden and death. With robust research into vaccines, antibody treatments, and antiviral drugs for COVID-19, there is still a dearth of evidence on the role of an individual's nutritional status. This study aimed to investigate the association between selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) status and COVID-19 severity in North Carolina among individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. METHODS: Subjects (n = 106) were recruited remotely as part of the Nutrition and COVID-19 in North Carolina (NC-NC) study and filled out online screening questionnaires and dietary surveys and provided toenail samples to be analyzed for Zn and Se concentrations. To assess the severity of COVID-19, subjects were asked about the presence and duration of 10 commonly reported symptoms. These responses were used to calculate a COVID-19 Severity Index (CSI). The relationship between Zn and Se status (intake and toe-nail concentrations) and CSI was explored using regression analysis. RESULTS: Our results showed that, the median (25th, 75th percentiles) dietary Se and Zn intake from selected food sources were 65.2 µg (43.2,112.9) and 4.3 mg (1.8, 8) respectively. Headache, cough, loss of smell or taste, and fever were reported by at least half of participants. In stepwise regression analysis, among individuals with low Se and Zn intake (below the median), Se but not Zn intake was inversely associated with CSI (β (95% CI) = −0.66 (−1.21, −0.11); p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study support a potential benefit of dietary selenium among individuals with low intake, to mitigate COVID-19 severity. FUNDING SOURCES: North Carolina Policy Collaboratory.