Zinc Deficiency
Symptoms of Coronavirus
COVID-19 and Zinc Deficiency Share Many Symptoms
A majority of the symptoms of COVID-19 — 18 symptoms in all — are near-indistinguishable from those of zinc deficiency. Symptoms shared by both include but are not limited to:
Dry cough
Nausea
Fever
Back pain
Abdominal discomfort or cramping
Loss of smell
Atrial fibrillation
Lowered immune function
Reduced lymphocytes (white blood cells)
Increased interleukin-6, indicative of inflammation
Pneumonia
Elevated iron storage
from Mt Sinai hospital in New York
Zinc: Helps maintain optimum immune function, boosts immunity and may prevent coronavirus from entering cells. Zinc also appears to reduce the severity of coronavirus infections and may have protective effects in the upper respiratory tract. Typical daily doses of zinc lozenges are 15 mg to 30 mg.
Zinc is a trace mineral that aids our immune systems in battling infection. Vitamin A is a key ingredient in a healthy immune system that works in tandem with zinc. When seeking to improve the intake and absorption of zinc. B-12 is also important. Trace minerals like zinc play a vital role in our bodies at the cellular level.
Importantly, zinc alone is not capable of fully stopping viral replication, Sardi notes. The reason for this is because zinc is largely insoluble and cannot easily enter through the fatty wall of your cells. Getting all the way into the cell is crucial, as this is where the viral replication occurs.
There are three chief causes of an underlying zinc deficiency:
not taking in enough zinc through one’s diet
losing excess amounts of zinc from the body, such as through poor absorption
people with chronic conditions
People with the following chronic conditions may experience zinc deficiency:
alcohol addiction
chronic diarrhea
chronic liver disease
pancreatic disease
sickle cell disease
ulcerative colitis
Vegetarians tend to eat higher levels of legumes, soybeans, beans, nuts, and whole-grain food products. While they are healthful food choices, they can impair the body’s ability to absorb zinc due to the presence of phytates. These substances bind to zinc, so the body cannot absorb it.
Soak beans in water before cooking them. This reduces the presence of phytates, making it easier for the body to process the zinc.
Link to age
Older adults are at risk for zinc deficiency because they may not eat or have access to a wide variety of foods. Taking some medications can also increase the body’s release of zinc.
Example include taking thiazide diuretics.
Foods and Supplements
Quercetin and epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG found in green tea), noting many of the biological actions of these compounds may in fact be related to their ability to increase cellular zinc uptake.Â
Quercetin is also a potent antiviral in its own right.
A natural antibiotic such as cinnamon extract or oil of oregano
Quercetin as a zinc ionophore (to enhance zinc entrance into cells)
Zinc, up to 30 milligrams per day
Vitamin B3Â (niacin), 25 to 50 mg per day, and selenium to further boost bioavailability of zinc
Adults older than age 19 should not take more than 40 milligrams (mg) of zinc a day.
Should zinc turn out to be in short supply, consider eating more zinc-rich foods. Examples include hemp, sesame and pumpkin seeds, cacao powder, cheddar cheese, chick peas (garbanzo beans), cashews and seafood such as oysters, Alaskan crab, shrimp and mussels.
The addition of niacin and selenium appears to be good advice, considering both play a role in the absorption and bioavailability of zinc in the body.