The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 outbreak as pandemic on 11^thMarch 2020, which is caused by another member of the Coronaviridae family—SARS-CoV-2.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include a combination of fever, non-productive or dry cough, chest pain, and difficulty in breathing. The pneumonic condition in COVID-19 is very severe and is also associated with high mortality.

In this current review article, the potential of zinc supplement with the ongoing treatment modalities for COVID-19 patients is highlighted.

Besides, zinc has the ability to improve innate and adaptive immunity in the progression of a viral infection. Also, zincsupplementation can enhance COVID-19 treatment along with those recommended treatment drugs. The effectiveness of zinccan be improved by using chloroquine as an ionophorewhereaszincinside the infected cell can haltthe SARS-CoV-2 replication.

Therefore, in this current pandemic of COVID-19, zincsupplementscan play asignificant role to treat COVID-19 patients such as (i) additional immune boosting effects with anti-viral drugs and (ii) preventing SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected cells, in combination with chloroquine.

Source: Rahman MT, Idid SZ. Can Zn Be a Critical Element in COVID-19 Treatment? [Published online ahead of print, 2020 May 26]. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2020;1-9. doi:10.1007/s12011-020-02194-9