{"id":63,"date":"2020-05-11T06:55:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T05:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drbannonsblog.aprendo.co.uk\/drbannonsblog_wp\/2020\/05\/11\/covid19-can-zinc-help\/"},"modified":"2021-03-25T08:44:09","modified_gmt":"2021-03-25T08:44:09","slug":"covid19-can-zinc-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drbannonsblog.aprendo.co.uk\/drbannonsblog_wp\/2020\/05\/11\/covid19-can-zinc-help\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID19 – can Zinc help?"},"content":{"rendered":"

They answer is of course a big yes. But does that mean supplements might help to improve the outcome from COVID19? This needs a more detailed answer, so let’s have a look at Zinc….<\/span>

<\/span>While our metabolism is like a giant three dimensional jigsaw of many different essential component pieces, of which Zinc is just one, it has a particular and critical role<\/a> in our relationships with viruses and bacteria and also regulates the inflammatory response. Zinc does therefore have an important role in our individual responses to any infection, including COVID19. <\/span>

<\/span>Indeed, Zinc has played a big part in human history, its alloy with copper making brass and is the fourth most common metal in use in modern age. When a lorry driver, I used to deliver it around the country as ductwork and sheeting. As a metal, it is rather attractive; that it also has a crucial role in our metabolism hints at the incredible complexity of nature. It i<\/span>s widespread in our environment, soils and food. <\/span>

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I first became interested when I read that <\/span>Zinc supplementation has been shown to be of potential benefit for people with <\/span>MS suffering from depression<\/a>. <\/span><\/div>\n


<\/span>So is our intake of Zinc a problem that need solving?<\/span><\/p>\n

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What does Zinc do?<\/span><\/h3>\n

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Life without Zinc is simply not possible. It speeds up and indeed is absolutely required for many important chemical reactions taking place inside every cell. It has an important role in DNA metabolism and is present in many proteins, helping them fold into the correct shapes with wonderful “Zinc Fingers”<\/a>. <\/span><\/div>\n

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More importantly here, it has important roles in the synthesis and regulation of white cells, the workers of our immune system and so <\/span>has many roles in protecting us from infections. Good stuff, this zinc!<\/span><\/div>\n

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There are 2-4 grammes of Zinc in the average adult body and we need about 10mg a day in our diet. There is a little stored in the bones and liver though these are rapidly used up when unwell. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/div>\n

What about Zinc and COVID19?<\/span><\/h3>\n


<\/span>In the lab at least<\/a> Zinc exhibits antiviral activity through inhibition of the chemical tools needed by the coronavirus to multiply within our cells. In other words, Zinc really might put a spanner in COVID’s reproductive works, but there is more; a recent study has taken a closer look<\/a>, and finds that:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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“In view of recent data on clinical course of the disease, it appears that adequate Zn status may possess protective effect as adjuvant [add-on] therapy of COVID\u201119 through reducing lung inflammation, improvement of mucociliary clearance, [helping clear the lungs] prevention of ventilator\u2011induced lung injury, modulation of antibacterial and antiviral immunity especially in elderly. Further clinical and experimental studies are strongly required to elucidate the potential role of Zn deficiency in COVID\u201119 susceptibility, as well as effects of Zn supplementation, and the underlying mechanisms.”<\/i><\/span>

<\/i><\/span>[my clarifications in brackets]<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

In other words Zinc helps us defeat COVID at just about every stage of the infection:<\/span> <\/p>\n