Can this vitamin defend us from the invisible enemy? 

The world is facing a different enemy—one that is foreign, one that cannot be seen, and one that has infected millions of people around the world. Unfortunately, it’s just the beginning. From its discovery in December 2019, we have learned a lot about Covid-19 and its its transmission, infection rate, risk factors, and prevention, but at the same time, there are still a lot of questions to be answered, most especially, if there is a vaccine or a cure. So while scientists, doctors, and researchers race against time to find answers, there have been some findings that certain existing therapies may help ward off the virus, one of which is zinc. 

Can this vitamin help against coronavirus? Zinc is an essential mineral that our bodies need. It is a multitasker, operating in the body with roles in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, cell division, as well as supporting normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence, according to the US National Institutes of Health. 

When there is a zinc deficiency, on the other hand, the immune system is compromised, and this may increase the risk for illnesses, such as diarrhea, liver and renal infections, or for severe deficiencies, lower respiratory tract infections like pneumonia. But did you know that zinc deficiency exhibits the same symptoms as Covid-19? From fever, dry cough, back pains, fatigue, to loss of smell and appetite and pneumonia, these are indicative of both. From what we already know, Covid-19 is an RNA virus that needs to replicate once it enters the body. Zinc and its immune system function can stop RNA polymerase activity, or the copying of RNA from DNA, an event that happens with coronaviruses, including Covid-19. 

In other words, zinc can interfere with virus replication and halt any further activity, thereby preventing too much inflammation that could be devastating to the body. But to get inside the cell where replication happens, ionophores such as hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine are needed. Some countries, like South Korea, have taken this approach and have seen some success in treatment. While both ionophores could have side effects, there are natural substances that can act similarly with less or no harm. While more studies are needed, zinc supplementation does show promise