The effect of Vitamin C and Zn supplementation on the immune system and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2) is the most dangerous form of the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. In patients with severe COVID-19, the immune system becomes markedly overactive. There is evidence that supplementation with select micronutrients may play a ro...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Clinical Nutrition Open Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667268522000353 |
| _version_ | 1828182647793254400 |
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| author | Safieh Firouzi Naseh Pahlavani Jamshid Gholizadeh Navashenaq Zachary Stephen Clayton Mohammad Taghi Beigmohammadi Mahsa Malekahmadi |
| author_facet | Safieh Firouzi Naseh Pahlavani Jamshid Gholizadeh Navashenaq Zachary Stephen Clayton Mohammad Taghi Beigmohammadi Mahsa Malekahmadi |
| author_sort | Safieh Firouzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2) is the most dangerous form of the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. In patients with severe COVID-19, the immune system becomes markedly overactive. There is evidence that supplementation with select micronutrients may play a role in maintaining immune system function in this patient population. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, significant emphasis has been placed on the importance of supplementing critical micronutrients such as Vitamin C and Zinc (Zn) due to their immunomodulatory effects. Viral infections, like COVID-19, increase physiological demand for these micronutrients. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to provide comprehensive information regarding the potential effectiveness of Vitamin C and Zn supplementation during viral infection and specifically COVID-19. This review demonstrated a relation between Vitamin C and Zn deficiency and a reduction in the innate immune response, which can ultimately make patients with COVID-19 more vulnerable to viral infection. As such, adequate intake of Vitamin C and Zn, as an adjunctive therapeutic approach with any necessary pharmacological treatment(s), may be necessary to mitigate the adverse physiological effects of COVID-19. To truly clarify the role of Vitamin C and Zn supplementation in the management of COVID-19, we must wait for the results of ongoing randomized controlled trials. The toxicity of Vitamin C and Zn should also be considered to prevent over-supplementation. Over-supplementation of Vitamin C can lead to oxalate toxicity, while increased Zn intake can reduce immune system function. In summary, Vitamin C and Zn supplementation may be useful in mitigating COVID-19 symptomology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:20:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-94b20392ca1c45aaaf3c7a8091f4d11c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-2685 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:20:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical Nutrition Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-94b20392ca1c45aaaf3c7a8091f4d11c2022-12-22T03:44:19ZengElsevierClinical Nutrition Open Science2667-26852022-08-0144144154The effect of Vitamin C and Zn supplementation on the immune system and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patientsSafieh Firouzi0Naseh Pahlavani1Jamshid Gholizadeh Navashenaq2Zachary Stephen Clayton3Mohammad Taghi Beigmohammadi4Mahsa Malekahmadi5Department of Nutrition, School of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, IranHealth Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, IranNoncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, IranDepartment of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USAAnesthesiology and Intensive Care Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Corresponding author.Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Corresponding author. Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Summary: SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2) is the most dangerous form of the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. In patients with severe COVID-19, the immune system becomes markedly overactive. There is evidence that supplementation with select micronutrients may play a role in maintaining immune system function in this patient population. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, significant emphasis has been placed on the importance of supplementing critical micronutrients such as Vitamin C and Zinc (Zn) due to their immunomodulatory effects. Viral infections, like COVID-19, increase physiological demand for these micronutrients. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to provide comprehensive information regarding the potential effectiveness of Vitamin C and Zn supplementation during viral infection and specifically COVID-19. This review demonstrated a relation between Vitamin C and Zn deficiency and a reduction in the innate immune response, which can ultimately make patients with COVID-19 more vulnerable to viral infection. As such, adequate intake of Vitamin C and Zn, as an adjunctive therapeutic approach with any necessary pharmacological treatment(s), may be necessary to mitigate the adverse physiological effects of COVID-19. To truly clarify the role of Vitamin C and Zn supplementation in the management of COVID-19, we must wait for the results of ongoing randomized controlled trials. The toxicity of Vitamin C and Zn should also be considered to prevent over-supplementation. Over-supplementation of Vitamin C can lead to oxalate toxicity, while increased Zn intake can reduce immune system function. In summary, Vitamin C and Zn supplementation may be useful in mitigating COVID-19 symptomology.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667268522000353COVID-19Vitamin CZnDietary supplementImmune system |
| spellingShingle | Safieh Firouzi Naseh Pahlavani Jamshid Gholizadeh Navashenaq Zachary Stephen Clayton Mohammad Taghi Beigmohammadi Mahsa Malekahmadi The effect of Vitamin C and Zn supplementation on the immune system and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients Clinical Nutrition Open Science COVID-19 Vitamin C Zn Dietary supplement Immune system |
| title | The effect of Vitamin C and Zn supplementation on the immune system and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients |
| title_full | The effect of Vitamin C and Zn supplementation on the immune system and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients |
| title_fullStr | The effect of Vitamin C and Zn supplementation on the immune system and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of Vitamin C and Zn supplementation on the immune system and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients |
| title_short | The effect of Vitamin C and Zn supplementation on the immune system and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients |
| title_sort | effect of vitamin c and zn supplementation on the immune system and clinical outcomes in covid 19 patients |
| topic | COVID-19 Vitamin C Zn Dietary supplement Immune system |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667268522000353 |
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