Estimation of oxidative stress, antioxidants and trace elements for COVID-19 patients: a cross-sectional study
et al., International Journal of Nutrology, doi:10.54448/ijn26227, Jun 2026
Cross-sectional study of 60 COVID-19 patients and 40 healthy controls showing significant oxidative stress imbalance, with elevated copper and total oxidant status, and decreased selenium and vitamin C levels in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects.
Study covers selenium and vitamin C.
Hamza et al., 30 Jun 2026, Iraq, peer-reviewed, 2 authors.
Contact: tholfikar_ahmed@uomus.edu.iq.
Abstract: 1, * (D
n21D
Estimation of Oxidative Stress, Antioxidants and Trace Elements in COVID-19 Patients
Check for
ABRAN (®
COVID-19
ASSOCIACÃO BRASILEIRA
updates
Patients
DE NUTROLOGIA
(n=60)
Trace Elements
1 Copper (Cu)
· Selenium (Se)
Healthy Controls
International Journal of Nutrology
(Official Journal of the ABRAN - Brazilian Association of Nutrology) (n=40) Blood Samples Analysis
Oxidative Stress
+ Total Oxidant
Status (TOS)
TOS
SARS-CoV-2 Infection
1 Reactive Oxygen Species
ROS
Antioxidants
- Vitamin C
IMBALANCE
1 Antioxidant Depletion
Estimation of oxidative stress, antioxidants and trace elements for COVID-19 patients: a cross-sectional study
Antioxidant Levels & Trace Element Imbalance
Thulfeqar A. Hamza 1,* , Rafal Fawze Kaream 2 Churco. Guin siltharchin
- 1 Al-Mustaqbal University. Medical Laboratory Department, Hilla City, Babylon Governorate, Iraq.
2 Al-Mustaqbal University. Medicinal Plants and Natural Products Department, Hilla City, Babylon Governorate, Iraq.
*Corresponding author: Thulfeqar A. Hamza.
Al-Mustaqbal University. Medical Laboratory Department,
Hilla City, Babylon Governorate, Iraq.
E-mail: tholfikar\_ahmed@uomus.edu.iq
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54448/ijn26227
Received: 04-25-2026; Revised: 06-26-2026; Accepted: 06-27-2026; Published: 06-30-2026; IJN-id: 26227
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54448/ijn26227
Received: 04-25-2026; Revised: 06-26-2026; Accepted: 06-27-2026; Published: 06-30-2026; IJN-id: 26227
Editor:
Dr. Carla Maria Barreto da Silva de Sousa Rego, MD, MsD, Ph.D.
Abstract
Introduction: The World Health Organization announced coronavirus-disease 2019 (COVID-19) to be a global pandemic. Recently oxidative stress has implicated in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. The buildup of free radicals together with the inability of the antioxidant system to counterbalance the free radicals produces oxidative stress which ultimately exacerbate respiratory diseases including COVID-19 . Objective: This was a study to explore the impact of corona virus 2019 (COVID-19) on blood oxidants and antioxidants. Methods: A total of blood samples were taken from (60) patients infected with COVID-19 and 40 volunteers as a control group. Results: The Copper levels that show a significant increase of Copper levels in the COVID-19 patients compared to the healthy subjects, and Selenium levels show a significant decrease of Selenium levels for the COVID-19 patients compared to the healthy subjects, and total oxidant levels show a very high significant increase of COVID19 patients compared to the healthy subjects, and Vitamin C levels show a significant decrease of Vitamin C levels for the COVID-19 patients compared to the healthy subjects. Conclusion , in COVID-19 positive patients, the levels of the antioxidant substances are decreased as they are progressively consumed to balance the injurious effect of the free radicals.
Keywords: COVID-19. Trace elements. Oxidative stress. Vitamin C.
Graphical Abstract
Source: Own authorship.
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