News: Intravenous zinc therapy for patients with COVID-19

Australian scientists are about to initiate the first clinical trial of intravenous zinc therapy for COVID-19 patients. Zinc is important for our immune capacity but it also helps counteract organ damage caused by an impaired oxygen supply to the cells and hyperinflammation. Zinc deficiencies are common, especially among older people, chronically ill, and other exposed groups.

Zinc is a trace element that is involved in over 1,000 enzyme processes, many of which are directly or indirectly linked to the immune defense. Zinc is also a powerful antioxidant that protects the body against oxidative stress. An estimated 25 percent of the global population lacks zinc, primarily due to poor eating habits. Also, ageing processes are able to block the uptake and utilization of this essential nutrient, and lack of zinc can even be caused by chronic diseases and a large intake of iron and calcium. Other zinc-depleting factors include various type of medicine such as diuretics, antacids, and ACE inhibitors. Some degree of zinc deficiency will always occur in older people and other groups that are vulnerable towards COVID-19. This increases the risk of infection and related complications.

Scientists put their faith in zinc - while awaiting a vaccine

Australian scientists from Austin Health Teaching Hospital and University of Melbourne are about to start the first clinical trial of intravenous zinc therapy for COVID-19 patients. The study will be headed by Dr. Joseph Ischia and Dr. Oneel Patel who for many years have studied the positive effect of intravenous zinc therapy used to treated organ damage caused by lack of oxygen.
According to the two scientists, COVID-19 is particularly dangerous because this virus is able to replicate extremely fast in the body. If the patient has impaired immunity it may lead to respiratory complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia plus more serious complications that are seen with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), another type of coronavirus that ravaged in 2002.
We are now dealing with the new strain called COVID-19 and if this coronavirus enters the lungs of the patients it may lead to breathing problems of such a severe nature that a ventilator is required. In worst case COVID-19 may cause comprehensive organ failure and brain damage as a result of the oxygen deficit.
Dr. Patel explains that earlier studies have shown how zinc effectively prevents the virus from replicating and spreading, thereby causing SARS and regular colds that are often a result of other types of coronavirus. That way, the large zinc doses can protect the vital organs such as the heart, the kidneys, and the liver against the damage caused by an insufficient oxygen supply.
The new study will show if daily injection with large doses of zinc chloride can benefit patients that are severely affected by COVID-19. The results will be available within a week or so.
There is currently no effective treatment for COVID-19 patients in overhanging danger. Therefore, this new study is of huge interest. The scientists hope that the intravenous zinc therapy proves to reduce the serious complications. They do, however, point out that they will only be using doses that are not toxic and that can be tolerated by the body
The new clinical study is the result of very fast and effective collaboration between Australian scientists in the fields of surgery, infectious diseases, and medical treatment of respiratory ailments. If their study is a success and the treatment can be employed, it will have the potential to save many lives globally especially among older people and vulnerable groups that are obviously nervous about this disease. The therapy is inexpensive and without side effects.

It’s problematic when COVID-19 attacks the red blood cells and causes ARDS

The red blood cells take up oxygen in the lungs, and then the oxygen is bound to iron-containing hemoglobin. The red blood cells carry the oxygen to all the cells that need oxygen to convert calories into energy. A Chinese study recently showed that COVID-19 can attack the hemoglobin in the red blood cells, thereby interfering with the oxygen supply to the different tissues. This stresses the lungs and all the energy-consuming organs because they cannot get the oxygen they need.
The Chinese scientists believe that this lack of oxygen in cells and vital organs contributes to hyperinflammation and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) together with secondary, life-threatening damage to other tissues. The Chinese study helps science understand when and why COVID-19 can become dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
The Australian scientists behind the new study are also familiar with the fact that failing oxygen supply to the cells can be life-threatening. They say that larger quantities of intravenous zinc can help counteract the serious damage to tissues and vital organs that is caused by the lack of oxygen.

Sources and supplements

Zinc is found in animal food sources, nuts, seeds, kernels, and beans. The daily reference intake (RI) level in Denmark is 10 mg. Ageing processes interfere with our zinc absorption so even if older people get enough zinc from their diets, they may be deficient.
Beware that many supplements contain inorganic sources like zinc sulfate or zinc oxide that the body has difficulty with absorbing. Organic sources like zinc gluconate and zinc acetate are much easier to absorb and utilize.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established a safe upper intake limit for adults (including pregnant women) at 25 mg per day. Short-term intake of larger zinc quantities from e.g. oysters, supplements or from intravenous therapy is harmless.

References:

World-first trial to test benefit of intravenous zinc in COVID-19 fight. The University of Melbourne. 8 apr. 2020

COVID-19 Supplements: Australian Researchers Start First Clinical trial To Test Effects Of Intravenous Zinc In COVID-19 Patients. Thailand Medical News April 10, 2020

MUST READ! Research Reveals That COVID-19 Attacks Hemoglobin in Red Blood Cells, rend It Incapable Of Transporting Oxygen. Current Medical protocols Could All Be Wrong. Thailand Medical News April 09, 2020

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