Two groups that most often show the greatest zinc deficiencies include the elderly and African-American. It happens that patients with serious COVID-19 symptoms and complications (according to the CDC) disproportionately include the same two groups. While causation is not established with such correlations alone there are also physiological and mechanistic explanations for how zinc helps defend our metabolic functions from viral hijacking, the resulting flu symptoms and even death.
Those aware of the impact of zinc who look at the research are taking zinc. During the pandemic of 2020 there has been a surge in demand for Zinc supplements. Zinc supplement producers during the pandemic have 1 to 2 week delays getting zinc to customers on Amazon.com. Zinc is not a "new: pharmaceutical" and the profit margin does not justify the high priced medical research often demanded by the FDA. So there is little sponsored research currently underway BUT there is past research, orthomolecular research and known physiological mechanisms that support the use of zinc to ward off viral infections.
In 1984 large scale studies verified that zinc is a "virus fighter". In that study zinc gluconate lozenges used early in the course of a viral infection (common cold) shortened the duration of the infection. A major 2012 review of the literature concluded that taking zinc early reduces the duration of a common cold by an average of 1.65 days. Since colds are mild virus infections these studies have verified that zinc has anti-virus properties. Medical researchers have long known of mechanisms through which zinc fights virus infections within the cell.
In recent research (4/7/2020) Amir Noeparast and Gil Verschelden (from Belgium), point out: documented evidence that link poor outcomes from COVID-19 with zinc deficiency.
(1) There is a large population with Zinc deficiency in the western world. Zinc deficiency is more prevalent among the geriatric population among people with certain underlying conditions.
(2) Women’s bodies make better use of zinc. “It is reported that among the geriatric female population, a gene polymorphism that leads to an increased release of Zinc is associated with decreased incidence of fatal Cytokyne Storms". This may explain why males appear more vulnerable and making up the majority of deaths from complications with COVID19.
(3) Zinc-deficiency may directly contribute to another cause of death (ARDS) from which is one of the poor outcomes from COVID-19 that results in death.
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) & Zinc
The problem with zinc taken orally is that it doesn’t always find its way into cells. There are chemicals that serve as zinc ionophores (chemical pathways into cells). These chemicals help transport zinc into the cell through the lipid outer wall that protects the cell. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and its close relative chloroquine (CQ) are the ionophores.
Zinc can exert an anti-SARS replication effect independent of CQ/HCQ. Patients with zinc deficiency would likely be deprived of this additive effect.
Dr. Vladimir Zelenko, a medical doctor in up-state New York, used a cocktail of zinc, HCQ and an antibiotic to successfully treat COVID-19 when it raged through a Hasidic Jewish community that he serves. He didn't prescribe anything to those who were young and healthy, but he treated 200 of the others with his cocktail with excellent results: zero deaths, only four needing hospitalization for pneumonia and only two needing hospitalization for intubation on a respirator. Despite Zelenko’s success, not a single controlled study has tried out the combo of HCQ with zinc. Instead they have either tried HCQ by itself or paired it with an antibiotic such as azithromycin.Recent studies that I have read which dismiss the positive impact of HCQ or found mal-effect from HCQ all have two factors in common: (1) Zinc is omitted as part of the protocol that uses HCQ (2) The HCQ was administered in quantities 5 to 20 times greater than successful studies using HCQ (in combination with zinc.)
The Zinc Dosage
Zinc, if taken at high concentrations over a long period of time, can deprive the body of copper, which is also a valuable nutrient. As a result, 40 mg of zinc per day is considered to be the maximum safe amount if zinc is taken continually. Zinc can make you sick and poison you if taken in extreme amounts (200 mg or more per day). Zinc lowers the serum copper levels which can be quite uncomfortable if the copper levels drop too rapidly.
Zinc absorption can be mitigated by calcium so avoidance of calcium (dairy products) an hour prior and after taking a zinc supplement helps your body absorb more of the zinc. Taking different versions of zinc can also increase zinc absorption. Different but popular zinc supplements include picolinated zinc, zinc sulfate and zinc citrate.
It is important to consult with your doctor if you are already taking other medications. Zinc could interfere with the effectiveness of some medications.
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On April 7, 2020 Belgian researchers, Amir Noeparast and Gil Verschelden,
YouTube video from March 6, 2020, Dr. Seheult illustrates and explains the inner workings of COVID-19 within the cell and how zinc within the cell fights it.
https://www.uchealth.org/today/zinc-could-help-diminish-extent-of-covid-19/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC353050/
https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/10/4/696/5476413
Zinc: The Missing Element in the HCQ/COVID-19 debate
By Howard Richman
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