Zinc and acute respiratory tract infections

Zinc is an essential metal being involved in a variety of biological processes due to its function as a cofactor, signaling molecule, and structural element (1)

• is involved in the regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, as well as the functioning of the reproductive, cardiovascular, and nervous system
• regulates proliferation, differentiation, maturation, and functioning of leukocytes and lymphocytes
• plays a signaling role involved in the modulation of inflammatory responses
• also a component of nutritional immunity (2)
  • alteration of zinc status significantly affects immune response resulting in increased susceptibility to inflammatory and infectious diseases including acquired immune deficiency syndrome, measles, malaria, tuberculosis, and pneumonia (1)
  • data demonstrate that zinc status is associated with the prevalence of respiratory tract infections in children and adults (2)
  • also thought that zinc has the potential to support COVID-19 therapy due to its immunomodulatory roles and direct antiviral effects (2)
    • study evidence showed that infected patients had significantly lower zinc concentrations than potentially non-infected participants (2)

In adult populations unlikely to be zinc deficient, there was some evidence suggesting zinc might prevent RTIs (respiratory tract infections) symptoms and shorten duration (3)

Reference:

• Skalny AV, Rink L, Ajsuvakova OP, et al. Zinc and respiratory tract infections: Perspectives for COVID-19 (Review). Int J Mol Med. 2020;46(1):17-26. doi:10.3892/ijmm.2020.4575
• Golabi S, Adelipour M, Mobarak S, et al. The Association between Vitamin D and Zinc Status and the Progression of Clinical Symptoms among Outpatients Infected with SARS-CoV-2 and Potentially Non-Infected Participants: A Cross-Sectional Study. Nutrients. 2021;13(10):3368. Published 2021 Sep 25. doi:10.3390/nu13103368
• Hunter J, Arentz S, Goldenberg J, et al.Zinc for the prevention or treatment of acute viral respiratory tract infections in adults: a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ Open 2021;11:e047474. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen 2020-047474.