The nutritional roles of zinc for immune system and COVID-19 patients
Di Jin, Xinran Wei, Yunyi He, Luying Zhong, Huijie Lü, Jiaxin Lan +3 more
Frontiers in Nutrition
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) is a vital micronutrient that strengthens the immune system, aids cellular activities, and treats infectious diseases. A deficiency in Zn can lead to an imbalance in the immune system. This imbalance is particularly evident in severe deficiency cases, where there is a high susceptibility to various viral infections, including COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. This review article examines the nutritional roles of Zn in human health, the maintenance of Zn concentration, and Zn uptake. As Zn is an essential trace element that plays a critical role in the immune system and is necessary for immune cell function and cell signaling, the roles of Zn in the human immune system, immune cells, interleukins, and its role in SARS-CoV-2 infection are further discussed. In summary, this review paper encapsulates the nutritional role of Zn in the human immune system, with the hope of providing specific insights into Zn research.
Extracted Claims
4 claims extracted from this paper into the knowledge graph
Zinc (Zn) is essential for immune cell function and cell signaling
“As Zn is an essential trace element that plays a critical role in the immune system and is necessary for immune cell function and cell signaling”
Zinc (Zn) deficiency increases susceptibility to viral infections, including COVID-19
“This imbalance is particularly evident in severe deficiency cases, where there is a high susceptibility to various viral infections, including COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.”
Zinc (Zn) strengthens immune system
“Zinc (Zn) is a vital micronutrient that strengthens the immune system, aids cellular activities, and treats infectious diseases.”