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Colegio de Medicina Interna de México.

2023, Number 3

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Med Int Mex 2023; 39 (3)

Therapeutic potential of zinc in patients with COVID-19

González-Duarte RJ, Cázares-Ordoñez V, Lezama-González J

Language: Spanish
References: 39
Page: 513-522
PDF size: 275.09 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Zinc is a fundamental trace element for the immune system and a critical factor for antiviral defenses, influencing the evolution of a virus infection. Zinc deficiency used to be considered rare; however, it is now a common problem, especially in developing countries. COVID-19 disease is rapidly spreading, with an immense number of people affected, and accessible treatment options are required, available worldwide and with minimal side effects. Zinc meets these criteria as a preventive and therapeutic agent, alone or in combination with other strategies. Therefore, there is particular interest in evaluating the rebalancing of the immune response using zinc supplementation against COVID-19. The scientific evidence is still limited, but its relevance lies in its novelty and potential therapeutic utility. We conducted a qualitative systematic review of the scientific reports published in 2020 and up to December 2021 on the use of zinc in patients with COVID-19, focusing on clinical studies. Although there is still no unified criterion on the therapeutic benefit of zinc against COVID-19, some reports highlight the usefulness of clinical research on the subject and the evidence shows that zinc deficiency is an important factor to consider in patients with COVID-19, as it may aggravate the development of the disease.


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