Clinical importance of zinc as monotherapy in modulating RT-PCR cycle threshold values and antibody levels in cases of COVID 19 patients
Maha Ibrahim, Widad M Al-Bishri, Hanan S Alnahdi, Samia M Ahmed, Ammar Bayoumi
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is globally concerning for overall health. The viral burden is diagnosed by the positive cycle threshold value (Ct-value) of the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. So far, no effective therapy has been established for this viral infection. This research aims to investigate the impact of zinc therapy on viral burden, salivary zinc levels and serum specific antibody levels versus SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen in subjects with infection. The correlation between viral burden and salivary zinc levels was also studied. 75 participants were included, classified as 25 non SARS-CoV-2 healthy individuals, 25 SARS-CoV-2 patients and 25 SARS-CoV-2 patients receiving zinc sulphate daily for 30 days. Results revealed markedly low salivary zinc levels in SARS-CoV-2 cases, which were closely linked with a high viral burden versus healthy participants. Marked elevations in serum IgM, IgG, and IgG1 antibody levels in infected patients versus healthy participants were also noticed. Treatment with zinc markedly boosted the salivary zinc levels and lowered the viral burden in SARS-CoV-2 cases. Serum IgM, IgG and IgG1 antibody levels were downregulated in SARS-CoV-2 treated with zinc. Conclusion: Zinc therapy may be an efficient therapeutic approach for SARS-CoV-2 viral eradication.
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