Abstract
Zinc is a trace element with potent immunoregulatory and antiviral properties, and it is used for the prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the beginning of epidemic. However, we do not know the clinical significance of serum zinc levels in COVID-19 patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between serum zinc levels and COVID-19 infection. Patients and methods. A prospective study was carried out in Al-Basrah city, Iraq, from November 2021 to March 2022. Initially, serum zinc levels were compared between COVID-19 patients and healthy controls. Then COVID-19 patients with zinc deficiency were compared to those with normal zinc levels. Results. COVID-19 patients showed significantly lower zinc levels after exclusion of zinc intake compared to healthy controls (p = 0.027). Among COVID-19 patients, 60 (40%) were found to be zinc deficient. These patients had a longer recovery period and a higher need for hospitalization. Conclusion. Zinc is an important trace element that plays a crucial role in immunity function, and the results of the present study demonstrate significantly lower zinc levels in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls. Key words: COVID-19, zinc, immune system
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