The biomedical importance of zinc and its use in treating COVID-19: An overview

Zinc deficiency makes us to realize the importance of zinc to human health becomes obvious. Even a mild zinc deficiency can impair hematopoietic and immune functions, leading to the destruction of pro-inflammatory phenotypes and redox metabolism. Although dysfunction of the immune system is the most obvious effect, zinc deficiency can destroy the function of many types of tissue cells. Decreased adhesion molecules and tight junction proteins and increased cell death lead to barrier dysfunction and possible organ failure. Zn deficiency, when combined, weakens the human body's resistance to pathogens while also increasing the risk of an overactive immune response that can cause tissue damage. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This has prompted scientists all over the world to work on finding new treatments for COVID-19. Aside from a weakened immune system, zinc deficiency causes several metabolic changes. The role of zinc in inhibiting covid-19, as well as the negative effects of zinc deficiency, are discussed in this review.