Abuhelwa, Do Zinc Supplements Reduce Mortality in Patients with COVID-19?, , Z., Translation: The University of Toledo Journal of Medical Sciences, doi:10.46570/utjms.vol11-2023-749 (meta analysis)
Systematic review and meta analysis of 6 studies showing lower mortality with zinc treatment.Currently there are 41 zinc studies and meta analysis shows:
Abstract: The University of Toledo
Infectious Diseases Abstract, Department of Medicine Research Symposium
Translation Journal of Medical Sciences
UTJMS 2023 May 5; 11(1):e1-e1
Do Zinc Supplements Reduce Mortality in
Patients with COVID-19? A Systematic
Review and Meta-Analysis
Ziad Abuhelwa, MD1*, Salik Khuder, PhD
1
Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo,
Toledo, OH 43614
*Corresponding author: Ziad.Abuhelwa@utoledo.edu
Published: 05 May 2023
Introduction: Zinc is a trace element that has major role in human immune system. This study aims to
assess the clinical benefits of zinc supplements on all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19.
Method: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies that
evaluated the clinical efficacy of zinc supplements in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The outcome
was all-cause mortality rate. Pooled relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (ICs)
were calculated and combined using a random-effects model.
Results: A total of 6 studies (3 randomized clinical trials and 3 retrospective observational studies) that
included 1,670 patients with COVID-19 (855 received zinc supplements vs. 812 received standard of
care without zinc) were included in our systematic review. Our meta-analysis showed that there is
statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality rate between the two groups favoring zinc
supplements (RR 0.66; 95%CI 0.54 - 0.81; P <0.0001)
Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that zinc supplements in addition to standard of care can reduce
all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19.
https://dx.doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol11-2023-749
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