Zinc Is Key for COVID-19 Treatment and Prevention

Your immune system is the first line of defense against disease. There are many methods to increase your immune system’s function. One nutrient that plays a very important role in your immune system’s ability to ward off viral infections is zinc.

Zinc gluconate,¹ zinc acetate² Zinc sulphate and³ All of these ingredients have been shown to decrease the severity and length of viral infections like the common cold. Zinc appears to be the main ingredient in treatment protocols that use hydroxychloroquine, (HCQ).

This is because HCQ (a zinc ionophore, a zinc transport molecule) is responsible.^4,5 meaning it’s a drug that improves your cells’ uptake of zinc. Zinc prevents the replication of viruses once it is inside cells.⁶ This is why zinc and zinc-ionophores must be taken early in the illness or as a preventative.

The problem with zinc is that it is difficult to get through your cells’ fatty wall because it is insoluble. Because this is where the virus replication happens, it is important to get into every cell. This is why zinc-ionophores have such an important role.

Aside from hydroxychloroquine, other natural, and safer, zinc ionophores include quercetin and epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG). A zinc ionophore and zinc can be combined to lower viral load, or at least prevent it from being too high, if given in a timely manner.

Zinc is essential for healthy immune function

Zinc is essential for healthy immune function⁷ — like vitamin D, it actually helps regulate your immune function⁸ — and a combination of zinc with a zinc ionophore was in 2010 shown to inhibit SARS coronavirus in vitro. It blocked viral replication within minutes in cell culture.⁹

It is important to note that zinc deficiency can impair immune function.¹⁰ A 2013 paper on zinc deficiencies noted:¹¹

“Zinc is a second messenger of immune cells, and intracellular free zinc in these cells participate in signaling events. Zinc … is very effective in decreasing the incidence of infection in the elderly. Zinc not only modulates cell-mediated immunity but is also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.”

Similar results can be found in the September 2020 paper of Medical Hypotheses. “Does Zinc Supplementation Enhance the Clinical Efficacy of Chloroquine / Hydroxychloroquine to Win Todays Battle Against COVID-19?” It is important to note that:¹²

“Besides direct antiviral effects, CQ/HCQ [chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine] Extracellular zinc should be targeted to intracellular Lysosomes, where it can interfere with RNA-dependentRNA polymerase activity or coronavirus reproduction

We believe that zinc deficiency is more common in older patients, those with chronic pulmonary disease or cardiovascular disease. Therefore, CQ/HCQ and zinc supplementation might be more effective in reducing COVID-19 mortality and morbidity than CQ/HCQ monotherapy. Therefore, CQ/HCQ in combination with zinc should be considered as additional study arm for COVID-19 clinical trials.”

Low Zinc levels increase COVID-19 death risk

Preliminary data suggest that those with lower zinc levels are more susceptible to COVID-19 death than those with higher levels. Research has shown that people with low zinc levels are more likely to die from COVID-19 than those with higher levels.^{13,14,15,16,17} This presentation was given at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology & Illitive Disease (ESCMID Conference on Coronavirus Disease).¹⁸ Online September 23-25, 2020. Posted September 25-25, 2020.¹⁹ On the preprint server, medRxiv October 11, 2020.

Dr. John Campbell discusses this and other zinc research in the video. The authors of the study noted that²⁰ “Zinc balances immune responses and also has a proven direct antiviral action against some viruses.” As mentioned, zinc’s primary antiviral action is to impair viral replication inside the cell.

The researchers performed a retrospective analysis on 249 COVID-19 patient admitted to a Barcelona hospital, Spain between Mach 15 and April 30, 2020. They also recorded plasma zinc levels. The average patient’s age was 63.

Patients with low zinc levels on admission had higher inflammation levels during their illness. They were also more likely than others to die from COVID-19 complications. Medical Xpress reports:²¹

“Mean baseline zinc levels among the 249 patients were 61 mcg/dl. The zinc levels at baseline in those who died were significantly lower than the levels of survivors at 63.1 mcg/dl.

Higher levels of zinc were associated to lower levels of interleukin-6, a protein that indicates systemic inflammation, during active infection.

After adjustment for age, sex and severity, statistical analysis revealed that each unit of plasma zinc increased at hospital admission was associated with a 7% lower risk of in-hospital death.

Having a plasma zinc level lower than 50 mcg/dl at admission was associated with a 2.3 times increased risk of in-hospital death compared with those patients with a plasma zinc level of 50 mcg/dl or higher.”

Zinc Deficiency and Poor COVID-19 Results

Another paper²² Campbell reviewed the article and it was published in November 2020 issue of International Journal of Infectious Diseases. The researchers found that COVID-19-related symptoms in hospitalized patients were more likely to have zinc deficiencies than healthy controls. The median zinc level in hospitalized COVID-19 patients was 74.5 mg/dl, as compared to the 105.8 mg/dl for the control group. The following was reported by the authors²³

“Amongst the COVID-19 patients, 27 (57.4%) were found to be zinc deficient. These patients were found to have higher rates of complications, acute respiratory distress syndrome (18.5% vs 0%), corticosteroid therapy, prolonged hospital stay, and increased mortality (18.5% vs 0%). The odds ratio (OR) of developing complications was 5.54 for zinc deficient COVID-19 patients.”

Importantly, complications occurred in 70% of patients who were zinc deficient, but only 30% of those who were sufficient had them. Campbell pointed out that healthy controls had much higher zinc levels than patients suffering from milder diseases in the Spanish study.

Higher levels were also seen in hospitalized patients. This raises the question of whether 50 mcg/dl Spanish threshold might still be too low. He mentions that “normal” Zinc levels vary between 72 and 144 mg/dl. This supports the Spanish study’s findings, as all patients had low zinc levels.

MATH+ Protocol: Zinc is a key component

[embedded content]

The most effective treatment protocol for COVID-19 includes the MATH+ Protocol,²⁴ Developed by The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Working Group²⁵ (FLCCC).

In the interview, Dr. Paul Marik discusses how COVID-19’s critical care protocol emerged from his sepsis treatment. A core component of this is vitamin C. He and other doctors discovered many similarities between severe COVID-19 infections and sepsis, including the out-of control inflammatory cascade.

Marik and nine others physicians created the FLCCC in order to identify the differences and developed a protocol that was specifically tailored for COVID-19.

This protocol includes zinc as a key component. The July 2020 update of the protocol includes quercetin as an aid to zinc uptake. There are now MATH+ protocol²⁶ For prophylaxis, you can treat mild symptoms at home. A full in-hospital critical care protocol is required.

Since April 2020, the group has released several updates. Make sure you download the most recent versions from the Eastern Virginia Medical School CoVID Care for Clinicians website.²⁷

Natural Zinc Transporters — Quercetin and EGCG

As mentioned, quercetin²⁸ HCQ, EGCG and other natural zinc ionophores can perform the same function as HCQ. According to a study²⁹ Published in 2014, many biological actions of quercetin or EGCG are actually related to their ability increase cellular zinc uptake. The authors explain:³⁰

“Labile zinc, a tiny fraction of total intracellular zinc that is loosely bound to proteins and easily interchangeable, modulates the activity of numerous signaling and metabolic pathways. Dietary plant polyphenols such as the flavonoids quercetin (QCT) and epigallocatechin-gallate act as antioxidants and as signaling molecules.

It is remarkable that many enzymes targeted by polyphenols depend on zinc. As we have shown, these polyphenols chelate Zinc Cations. It was also suggested that the flavonoids may be acting as zinc-ionophores and transporting Zinc Cations through plasma membranes.

To prove this hypothesis, herein, we have demonstrated the capacity of QCT and epigallocatechin-gallate to rapidly increase labile zinc in mouse hepatocarcinoma Hepa 1-6 cells as well as, for the first time, in liposomes … The ionophore activity of dietary polyphenols may underlay the raising of labile zinc levels triggered in cells by polyphenols and thus many of their biological actions.”

Quercetin and EGCG not only increase zinc uptake but also inhibit 3CL protease.³¹ — an enzyme used by SARS coronaviruses to infect healthy cells.³² As detailed in the 2020 paper³³ 3CL protease is found in Nature “is essential for processing the polyproteins that are translated from the viral RNA.”

A second 2020 study also found that this is the case.³⁴ The ability of quercetin and EGCG, along with certain flavonoids, to prevent the SARS coronaviruses “is presumed to be directly linked to suppress the activity of SARS-CoV 3CLpro in some cases.”

Zinc absorption and bioavailability are also improved by selenium and vitamin B3. Study after study showed that zinc can be absorbed more easily in the stomach than it is in the skin.³⁵ A 1991 study showed that zinc levels in young women who were fed a low-quality diet of vitamin B6 decreased. This suggests that zinc metabolism is affected by B6 deficiencies. “absorbed zinc was not available for utilization.”

A more in-depth exploration and explanation of both niacin and selenium’s relationship to zinc is provided in the 2008 paper, “Zinc, Metallothioneins and Longevity: Interrelationships With Niacin and Selenium.”³⁶

Quercetin Support Continued

The Green Stars Project also reported support for quercetin’s use against COVID-19.³⁷ Oak Ridge National Lab researchers searched for molecules that could inhibit the COVID-19 spike protein’s interaction with human cells using the supercomputer SUMMIT. Quercetin ranks fifth on this list.³⁸

Quercetin can also be used as an antiviral. As described in “Quercetin Lowers Your Risk for Viral Illnesses,” There are several mechanisms that could be used to combat COVID-19.

• Inhibiting virus’ ability to infect cells[39]
• Refrain from replication of infected cells
• Reducing infected cells’ resistance to treatment with antiviral medication
• Inhibiting lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) production in macrophages.
  TNF-α is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation, secreted by activated macrophages, a type of immune cell that digests foreign substances, microbes and other harmful or damaged components [40]
• Modulation of calcium influx into cells inhibits the release proinflammatory chemicals and histamines[41]
• Stabilizing mast cells[42]
• Regulation of basic functional characteristics of immune cells[43]
• Down-regulating and suppressing inflammatory pathways.[44]

Zinc-to-Copper Ratio Can Impact Immune Function

Supplementing zinc with more is not always better. If you do not maintain a healthy balance of zinc and copper, it can often backfire. Chris Masterjohn, a nutrition scientist with a Ph.D., explains how it can backfire.⁴⁵ In an article⁴⁶ A series of tweets from Twitter:⁴⁷

“In one study, 300mg/day of zinc as two divided doses of 150 mg zinc sulfate decreased important markers of immune function, such as the ability of immune cells known as polymorphonuclear leukocytes to migrate toward and consume bacteria.

The most worrying effect of COVID-19 in this context is the reduction of the lymphocyte stimulation Index by 3 fold. This is an indicator of the ability to T cells to increase their numbers when there is a threat. The reason this is so concerning in the context of COVID-19 is that poor outcomes are associated with low lymphocytes …

The negative effect on lymphocyte proliferation found with 300 mg/day and the apparent safety in this regard of 150 mg/d suggests that the potential for hurting the immune system may begin somewhere between 150-300 mg/d …

It is quite possible that the harmful effect of 300 mg/d zinc on the lymphocyte stimulation index is mediated mostly or completely by induction of copper deficiency …

As little as 60 mg/d zinc has been shown to have a negative impact on copper status. This intake lowers the activity of superoxide dismutase, an enzyme important to antioxidant defense and immune function that depends both on zinc and copper …

Study with low zinc intakes showed acceptable zinc-to-copper ratios of 2:1 to 15% in favor of zinc. Copper can be consumed up to 10 mg/day.

Notably, the maximum amount of zinc one could consume while staying in the acceptable range of zinc-to-copper ratios and also staying within the upper limit for copper is 150 mg/d.”

Another factor to keep in mind is that certain additives can inhibit zinc absorption, which is the complete opposite of what you’re looking for. Citric acid, glycine and mannitol have been shown to reduce zinc absorption.⁴⁸ These ingredients could make zinc lozenges less effective.

How much Zinc do you need?

The recommended daily allowance of zinc in the United States is 11 mg for adults and 8 mg for women. Pregnant and nursing women should consume slightly more.⁴⁹

Masterjohn recommends taking between 7 and 15 mg of zinc per day to prevent COVID-19, as well as other viral infections. Masterjohn recommends eating a healthy diet that includes phytate-free meals or on an empty stomach. Masterjohn also suggests getting at least 1mg of copper from food or supplements for every 15mg of zinc.

Remember, there are many foods that contain zinc so supplementation may not be necessary. A daily intake of 20 mg of zinc is approximately three-quarters of an ounce of ground bison or lamb, which I consume about three-quarters to a pound per day. I personally don’t take any zinc supplement other than what I get from my food.

Originally published January 11, 2023 on Mercola.com

Sources and references