The findings of a new study on zinc and COVID-19, conducted in Spain over March and April, were presented at the 2020 ESCMID Conference on Coronavirus Disease (ECCVID). The researchers looked at blood samples from 611 coronavirus patients with an average age of 63, Health reports. Researchers then examined the zinc levels recorded in 249 of the patients, including 21 who succumbed to the illness. And they found a stark difference between them: Survivors had 63.1 micrograms per deciliter of zinc in their blood, while those who died from COVID had only 43.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb The researchers also found that high levels of zinc in the blood were tied to lower levels of pro-inflammatory proteins when patients were infected, WebMD reports. In a statement, the team responsible for the study concluded that lower zinc levels are linked with “poorer outcome.” “It has long been thought that zinc bolsters the immune system,” Len Horovitz, MD, a pulmonologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told WebMD. “A possible explanation in this study is that zinc may have an anti-inflammatory effect that is protective.” Other studies have reached similar conclusions. A report published in July in the journal Frontiers in Immunology concluded that, when it comes to COVID-19, “zinc is a cost-efficient, globally available and simple to use [treatment] option with little to no side effects.” RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. So how can you make sure you’re getting enough zinc? According to the National Institutes of Health, foods rich in the mineral include oysters, red meat, crab, beans, and nuts. If you’re still having trouble getting your necessary zinc intake, experts recommend consulting your doctor about possible supplements. And for more ways to keep the virus at bay, check out The 2 Vitamins Dr. Fauci Says You Should Take to Boost Immunity.
