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Khan KM, Zimpfer MJ, Sultana R, Parvez TM, Navas-Acien A, Parvez F. Role of Metals on SARS-CoV-2 Infection: a Review of Recent Epidemiological Studies. Curr Environ Health Rep 2023; 10:353-368. [PMID: 37665544 PMCID: PMC11149155 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00409-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Metals and metalloids are known for their nutritional as well as toxic effects in humans. In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, understanding the role of metals on COVID-19 infection is becoming important due to their role in infectious diseases. During the past 2 years, a significant number of studies have examined the impact of metals and metalloids on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed manuscripts on the association of metals and metalloids with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity published since the onset of the pandemic. RECENT FINDINGS We searched for epidemiological studies available through the PubMed database published from January 2020 to December 2022. Of 92 studies identified, 20 met our inclusion criteria. These articles investigated the association of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), chromium (Cr), and/or lead (Pb) levels on SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or COVID-19 severity. Of the ten metals and metalloids of interest that reported either positive, negative, or no associations, Zn yielded the highest number of articles (n = 13), followed by epidemiological studies on Se (n = 7) and Fe (n = 5). Elevated serum Zn and Se were associated with reduced COVID-19 severity and mortality. Similarly, higher levels of serum Fe were associated with lower levels of cellular damage and symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and with faster recovery from COVID-19. On the other hand, higher serum and urinary Cu and serum Mg levels were associated with higher COVID-19 severity and mortality. Along with the positive or negative effects, some studies reported no impact of metals on SARS-CoV-2 infection. This systematic review suggests that metals, particularly Zn, Fe, and Se, may help reduce the severity of COVID-19, while Cu and Mg may aggravate it. Our review suggests that future pandemic mitigation strategies may evaluate the role of Zn, Se, and Fe as potential therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid M Khan
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, USA
| | - Mariah J Zimpfer
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, USA
| | - Rasheda Sultana
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, USA
| | - Tahmid M Parvez
- Department of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W, 168Th St., New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Faruque Parvez
- Department of Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W, 168Th St., New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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Radpay R, Eghtesadi S. Relationship between Plasma Levels of Zinc and Magnesium with the Treatment Process and Mortality Risk in COVID-19 Patients. TANAFFOS 2023; 22:236-247. [PMID: 38628887 PMCID: PMC11016917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic is considered a major health problem all over the world which has caused extensive and worldwide mortality and morbidities along with vast economic and political impact. Limitations of our knowledge and controversies in treatment modalities make the control and management of this disease more difficult. The status of electrolytes especially Mg and Zn in plasma and its correlation with the clinical situation and criteria for recovery has been investigated in various studies. Limited data in Iran mandate the design of a trial for evaluating our critically ill patients. We designed this study to investigate the correlation between plasma levels of Mg and Zn and the outcome including patients' need for assisted/controlled ventilation, time required for weaning, length of ICU stay, and probable cause of death. Materials and Methods 413 patients with severe respiratory signs of COVID-19 disease who were admitted to the ICUs of 3 medical centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were evaluated for plasma levels of Mg and Zn. Supplemental therapy was introduced when needed and was followed until discharge from ICU or death. All recorded data were analyzed by statistical methods and results were compared with similar studies. Results 20.6% and 35.1% of all participants had low serum levels of Mg and Zn, respectively. 11 patients (2.7%) died through the treatment period. 56.9% and 61.0% of participants received Mg and Zn supplements, respectively. Conclusion According to our results, serum Mg and Zn levels did not show a significant correlation with the risk of death due to severe COVID-19 disease, prolonged assisted ventilation, or duration of ICU stay. There was no significant association between Mg and Zn supplementation with the risk of death due to severe COVID-19; however, it showed an inverse relationship with the time required for assisted ventilation and the duration of ICU stay. It seems that Mg and Zn supplementation can be useful in preventing or managing some of the morbidities among COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rojan Radpay
- Master Science Student, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahryar Eghtesadi
- Professor at Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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Demircan K, Chillon TS, Bracken T, Bulgarelli I, Campi I, Du Laing G, Fafi-Kremer S, Fugazzola L, Garcia A, Heller R, Hughes DJ, Ide L, Klingenberg GJ, Komarnicki P, Krasinski Z, Lescure A, Mallon P, Moghaddam A, Persani L, Petrovic M, Ruchala M, Solis M, Vandekerckhove L, Schomburg L. Association of COVID-19 mortality with serum selenium, zinc and copper: Six observational studies across Europe. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1022673. [PMID: 36518764 PMCID: PMC9742896 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1022673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Certain trace elements are essential for life and affect immune system function, and their intake varies by region and population. Alterations in serum Se, Zn and Cu have been associated with COVID-19 mortality risk. We tested the hypothesis that a disease-specific decline occurs and correlates with mortality risk in different countries in Europe. Methods Serum samples from 551 COVID-19 patients (including 87 non-survivors) who had participated in observational studies in Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Poland) were analyzed for trace elements by total reflection X-ray fluorescence. A subset (n=2069) of the European EPIC study served as reference. Analyses were performed blinded to clinical data in one analytical laboratory. Results Median levels of Se and Zn were lower than in EPIC, except for Zn in Italy. Non-survivors consistently had lower Se and Zn concentrations than survivors and displayed an elevated Cu/Zn ratio. Restricted cubic spline regression models revealed an inverse nonlinear association between Se or Zn and death, and a positive association between Cu/Zn ratio and death. With respect to patient age and sex, Se showed the highest predictive value for death (AUC=0.816), compared with Zn (0.782) or Cu (0.769). Discussion The data support the potential relevance of a decrease in serum Se and Zn for survival in COVID-19 across Europe. The observational study design cannot account for residual confounding and reverse causation, but supports the need for intervention trials in COVID-19 patients with severe Se and Zn deficiency to test the potential benefit of correcting their deficits for survival and convalescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Demircan
- Institute for Experimental Endocrinology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thilo Samson Chillon
- Institute for Experimental Endocrinology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tommy Bracken
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ilaria Bulgarelli
- Laboratorio Analisi Cliniche, Centro di Ricerche e Tecnologie Biomediche, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Irene Campi
- Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Gijs Du Laing
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Samira Fafi-Kremer
- CHU de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Virologie, Strasbourg University, INSERM, IRM UMR-S 1109, Strasbourg, France
| | - Laura Fugazzola
- Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Alejandro Abner Garcia
- Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Raban Heller
- Institute for Experimental Endocrinology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany,Clinic of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David J. Hughes
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Louis Ide
- Laboratory Medicine, AZ Jan Palfijn AV, Gent, Belgium
| | - Georg Jochen Klingenberg
- Institute for Experimental Endocrinology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pawel Komarnicki
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Krasinski
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Angiology and Phlebology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Alain Lescure
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Patrick Mallon
- Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Luca Persani
- Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy,Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Mirko Petrovic
- Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Marek Ruchala
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Morgane Solis
- CHU de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Virologie, Strasbourg University, INSERM, IRM UMR-S 1109, Strasbourg, France
| | - Linos Vandekerckhove
- Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Lutz Schomburg
- Institute for Experimental Endocrinology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany,*Correspondence: Lutz Schomburg,
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Wang F, Zhong J, Zhang R, Sun Y, Dong Y, Wang M, Sun C. Zinc and COVID-19: Immunity, Susceptibility, Severity and Intervention. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 64:1969-1987. [PMID: 36094452 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2119932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and continuing emergence of viral mutants, there has been a lack of effective treatment methods. Zinc maintains immune function, with direct and indirect antiviral activities. Zinc nutritional status is a critical factor in antiviral immune responses. Importantly, COVID-19 and zinc deficiency overlap in high-risk population. Hence, the potential effect of zinc as a preventive and adjunct therapy for COVID-19 is intriguing. Here, this review summarizes the immune and antiviral function of zinc, the relationship between zinc levels, susceptibility, and severity of COVID-19, and the effect of zinc supplementation on COVID-19. Existing studies have confirmed that zinc deficiency was associated with COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. Zinc supplementation plays a potentially protective role in enhancing immunity, decreasing susceptibility, shortening illness duration, and reducing the severity of COVID-19. We recommend that zinc levels should be monitored, particularly in COVID-19 patients, and zinc as a preventive and adjunct therapy for COVID-19 should be considered for groups at risk of zinc deficiency to reduce susceptibility and disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiayi Zhong
- National Key Disciplines of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- National Key Disciplines of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yongzhi Sun
- National Key Disciplines of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yingran Dong
- National Key Disciplines of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Maoqing Wang
- National Key Disciplines of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Changhao Sun
- National Key Disciplines of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Abstract
Zinc is an essential element for human health. Among its many functions, zinc(II) modulates the immune response to infections and, at high concentrations or in the presence of ionophores, inhibits the replication of various RNA viruses. Structural biology studies on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) revealed that zinc(II) is the most common metal ion that binds to viral proteins. However, the number of zinc(II)-binding sites identified by experimental methods is far from exhaustive, as metal ions may be lost during protein purification protocols. To better define the zinc(II)-binding proteome of coronavirus, we leveraged the wealth of deposited structural data and state-of-the-art bioinformatics methods. Through this in silico approach, 15 experimental zinc(II) sites were identified and a further 22 were predicted in Spike, open reading frame (ORF)3a/d, ORF8, and several nonstructural proteins, highlighting an essential role of zinc(II) in viral replication. Furthermore, the structural relationships between viral and eukaryotic sites (typically zinc fingers) indicate that SARS-CoV-2 can compete with human proteins for zinc(II) binding. Given the double-edged effect of zinc(II) ions, both essential and toxic to coronavirus, only the complete elucidation of the structural and regulatory zinc(II)-binding sites can guide selective antiviral strategies based on zinc supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Andreini
- Consorzio Interuniversitario di Risonanze Magnetiche di Metallo Proteine, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Chemistry and Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Fabio Arnesano
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bari “Aldo Moro,” Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Rosato
- Consorzio Interuniversitario di Risonanze Magnetiche di Metallo Proteine, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Chemistry and Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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Nili H, Bouzari M, Attaran HR, Ghalegolab N, Rabani M, Mahmoudian A. Hyper-Immune Bovine Milk as an Immunological and Nutritional Supplement for COVID-19. Front Nutr 2022; 9:868964. [PMID: 35799590 PMCID: PMC9254720 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.868964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many different strategies have been used to fight against the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as a therapeutics or prophylaxis approaches. However, not enough attention has been paid to general and specific immune factors and nutritional components found in hyper-immunized dairy products. Hyper-immune bovine colostrum (HBC) has been used against many different respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts infections during past decades. An isolated dairy farm was established, and nine mixed Holstein X Simmental dairy cattle in their 6–7 months of gestation period were chosen for hyper-immunization with inactivated Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). For this, six cows were inoculated with 2 ml of 109.4/ml (TCID50) of the virus. As a control group, three cows were inoculated with the carrier without virus. Specific IgG level against the SARS-CoV-2 was measured before and after immunization in the sera, and in the colostrum and milk following parturition in hyper-immunized cows using indirect Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Neutralizing antibodies in the serum and colostrum was measured by a quantitative ELISA. The safety of the product was determined in40 healthy volunteers aged between 18–65 years old (13 females and 27 males) in the phase 1 clinical trial (https://www.irct.ir/trial/51259). No adverse effects were observed in the experimental cows. A very high level of IgG was observed in the first colostrum that sharply decreased in the following 7 days in the milk. The titer of specific neutralizing antibody in the colostrum samples was 69 times higher than the sera. No adverse effects and clinical complications were reported by the authorized ethics committee, and an official certificate on the safety of the product was issued. Beside other strategies, this approach could be used for large-scale and low-cost production of immune components to be used as a nutritional supplement to confront current SARS-CoV-2 and future pandemics.Clinical Trial Registration[https://www.irct.ir/trial/51259].
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Nili
- Virology Research Center, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
- Zeitoon Isfahan Vaccine Innovators Company, Isfahan Sciences and Technology Town, Isfahan, Iran
- *Correspondence: Hassan Nili, ,
| | - Majid Bouzari
- Virology Research Center, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
- Zeitoon Isfahan Vaccine Innovators Company, Isfahan Sciences and Technology Town, Isfahan, Iran
- *Correspondence: Hassan Nili, ,
| | - Hamid Reza Attaran
- Virology Research Center, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Nader Ghalegolab
- Razi Serum and Vaccine Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension (AREEO), Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rabani
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ahmad Mahmoudian
- Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran
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Singh S, Kishore D, Singh RK, Pathak C, Ranjan K. Higher BCG‐induced trained immunity prevalence predicts protection from COVID‐19: Implications for ongoing BCG trials. CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL DISCOVERY 2022; 2:e60. [PMID: 35938058 PMCID: PMC9347530 DOI: 10.1002/ctd2.60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Samer Singh
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery Institute of Medical Sciences Banaras Hindu University Varanasi Uttar Pradesh India
| | - Dhiraj Kishore
- Department of General Medicine Institute of Medical Sciences Banaras Hindu University Varanasi Uttar Pradesh India
| | - Rakesh K. Singh
- Department of Biochemistry Institute of Science Banaras Hindu University Varanasi Uttar Pradesh India
| | | | - Kishu Ranjan
- Department of Pathology School of Medicine Yale University New Haven Connecticut USA
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Balboni E, Zagnoli F, Filippini T, Fairweather-Tait SJ, Vinceti M. Zinc and selenium supplementation in COVID-19 prevention and treatment: a systematic review of the experimental studies. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2022; 71:126956. [PMID: 35217499 PMCID: PMC8853960 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2022.126956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the world's population in the last two years. Along with non-pharmacological public health interventions, major efforts have also been made to identify effective drugs or active substances for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. These include, among many others, the trace elements zinc and selenium, based on laboratory studies and some observational human studies. However, both of these study designs are not adequate to identify and approve treatments in human medicine, and experimental studies in the form of randomized controlled trials are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness and the safety of any interventions. METHODS We undertook a systematic review in which we searched for published and unpublished clinical trials using zinc or selenium supplementation to treat or prevent COVID-19 in the Pubmed, Scopus and ClinicalTrials databases up to 10 January 2022. RESULTS Amongst the published studies, we did not find any trial with selenium, whereas we retrieved four eligible randomized clinical trials using zinc supplementation, only one of which was double-blind. One of these trials looked at the effect of the intervention on the rate of new SARS-CoV-2 infections, and three at the COVID-19 clinical outcome in already infected individuals. The study populations of the four trials were very heterogeneous, ranging from uninfected individuals to those hospitalized for COVID-19. Only two studies investigated zinc alone in the intervention arm with no differences in the endpoints. The other two studies examined zinc in association with one or more drugs and supplements in the intervention arm, therefore making it impossible to disentangle any specific effects of the element. In addition, we identified 22 unpublished ongoing clinical trials, 19 on zinc, one on selenium and two on both elements. CONCLUSION No trials investigated the effect of selenium supplementation on COVID-19, while the very few studies on the effects of zinc supplementation did not confirm efficacy. Therefore, preventive or therapeutic interventions against COVID-19 based on zinc or selenium supplementation are currently unjustified, although when the results of the on-going studies are published, this may change our conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Balboni
- Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Federico Zagnoli
- Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Tommaso Filippini
- Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Marco Vinceti
- Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, USA.
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Nutritional interventions to augment immunity for COVID-19. Nutr Diabetes 2022; 12:13. [PMID: 35354784 PMCID: PMC8964920 DOI: 10.1038/s41387-022-00194-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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Singh S, Kishore D, Singh RK. Potential for Further Mismanagement of Fever During COVID-19 Pandemic: Possible Causes and Impacts. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:751929. [PMID: 35308547 PMCID: PMC8924660 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.751929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fever remains an integral part of acute infectious diseases management, especially for those without effective therapeutics, but the widespread myths about "fevers" and the presence of confusing guidelines from different agencies, which have heightened during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and are open to alternate interpretation, could deny whole populations the benefits of fever. Guidelines suggesting antipyresis for 37.8-39°C fever are concerning as 39°C boosts the protective heat-shock and immune response (humoral, cell-mediated, and nutritional) whereas ≥40°C initiates/enhances the antiviral responses and restricts high-temperature adapted pathogens, e.g., severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), strains of influenza, and measles. Urgent attention is accordingly needed to address the situation because of the potential public health consequences of the existence of conflicting guidelines in the public domain. We have in this article attempted to restate the benefits of fever in disease resolution, dispel myths, and underline the need for alignment of national treatment guidelines with that of the WHO, to promote appropriate practices and reduce the morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases, such as COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samer Singh
- Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Dhiraj Kishore
- Department of General Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Rakesh K. Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
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Tsuchiya H. Gustatory and Saliva Secretory Dysfunctions in COVID-19 Patients with Zinc Deficiency. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12030353. [PMID: 35330104 PMCID: PMC8950751 DOI: 10.3390/life12030353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the ever-progressing studies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is critical to update our knowledge about COVID-19 symptomatology and pathophysiology. In the present narrative review, oral symptoms were overviewed using the latest data and their pathogenesis was hypothetically speculated. PubMed, LitCovid, ProQuest, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant studies from 1 April 2021 with a cutoff date of 31 January 2022. The literature search indicated that gustatory dysfunction and saliva secretory dysfunction are prevalent in COVID-19 patients and both dysfunctions persist after recovery from the disease, suggesting the pathogenic mechanism common to these cooccurring symptoms. COVID-19 patients are characterized by hypozincemia, in which zinc is possibly redistributed from blood to the liver at the expense of zinc in other tissues. If COVID-19 induces intracellular zinc deficiency, the activity of zinc-metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase localized in taste buds and salivary glands may be influenced to adversely affect gustatory and saliva secretory functions. Zinc-binding metallothioneins and zinc transporters, which cooperatively control cellular zinc homeostasis, are expressed in oral tissues participating in taste and saliva secretion. Their expression dysregulation associated with COVID-19-induced zinc deficiency may have some effect on oral functions. Zinc supplementation is expected to improve oral symptoms in COVID-19 patients.
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Serum zinc levels in pediatric patients with COVID-19. Eur J Pediatr 2022; 181:1575-1584. [PMID: 35064310 PMCID: PMC8782687 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-021-04348-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Zinc has potent immunoregulatory and antiviral effects that are critical for growth, immunity, and neurologic development. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical significance of serum zinc levels in pediatric patients with COVID-19 and to demonstrate its association with disease severity. This prospective observational study was conducted between August 3 and November 15, 2020, in pediatric patients aged 1 month to 18 years with confirmed COVID-19 using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We defined a control group whose serum zinc levels were determined 1 year ago at the same time as those of patients with COVID-19. We used 70 μg/dL as the cut-off zinc value to define zinc deficiency. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS for Windows statistics package program. One hundred children with confirmed COVID-19 and 269 children in the control group participated in the study. The median age was 13.3 (IQR: 8-15.4) years in patients with confirmed COVID-19, 11 patients had low serum zinc levels, and 89 patients had normal serum zinc levels. Patients in the group with low zinc levels had a significantly higher hospitalization rate than the group with normal zinc levels (5 (45.5%) and 10 patients (11.2%), respectively) (p = 0.011). The median serum zinc level in patients with COVID-19 was 88.5 mcg/dL (IQR 77.2-100), which was significantly lower than the median level in the control group, which was 98 mcg/dL (IQR 84-111) (p = 0.001). There was no association between the severity of COVID-19 and the serum zinc levels of the children. CONCLUSION Serum zinc levels may be influenced by many factors such as fasting status, diurnal variation, exercise, and sex, and may give an impression of the zinc status of the population rather than reflecting the individual. The fact that the incidence of hospitalization was significantly higher in patients with both COVID-19 and low serum zinc levels suggests that these patients require a detailed assessment of their living environment. WHAT IS KNOWN • Serum zinc levels have been found to be low in adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19. • There was a correlation between the severity of COVID-19 and serum zinc levels in adults. WHAT IS NEW • Children with low serum zinc levels were found to have a higher number of hospitalizations. • No association was found between the severity of COVID-19 disease and serum zinc levels in children.
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