ArticleMedical hypotheses2020
Is copper beneficial for COVID-19 patients?
Article in Medical hypotheses, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 84 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
84 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 206 citations in OpenAlex.
- Circulating trace elements status in COVID-19 disease: A meta-analysis.Frontiers in nutrition · 2022Pooled it
- Effects of essential metals (iron, zinc, and copper) on thyroid diseases - a narrative review.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Review
- Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, antiviral, and antidiabetic activities of copper oxide nanoparticles biofabricated via Opuntia ficus indica.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Effects of Trace Elements on Endocrine Function and Pathogenesis of Thyroid Diseases-A Literature Review.Nutrients · 2025Review
- The Role of Vitamins, Magnesium, and Trace Elements in COVID-19 Treatment and Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation: An Updated Overview.Current medicinal chemistry · 2025Review
- Trace Elements in Medicinal Metallomics.Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry · 2025Review
- Antimicrobial and Superhydrophobic CuONPs/TiOACS omega · 2024Article
- Cuproptosis-associated lncRNA impact prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer co-infected with COVID-19.Journal of cellular and molecular medicine · 2024Article
- Immunomodulation through Nutrition Should Be a Key Trend in Type 2 Diabetes Treatment.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Review
- Occurrence, distribution, source apportionment, ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals in water, sediment, fish and prawn from Ojo River in Lagos, Nigeria.Environmental monitoring and assessment · 2024Article
- Effect of micronutrients on the risk of Graves' disease: a Mendelian randomization study.Frontiers in nutrition · 2024Article
- Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Evaluated by Antibody Response in a Sample of Workers from the Emilia-Romagna Region, Northern Italy.Antibodies (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Copper and Copper-Based Nanoparticles in Medicine-Perspectives and Challenges.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties of Polyester, Polylactide, and Cotton Nonwovens and Fabrics, by Means of Stable Aqueous Dispersions Containing Copper Silicate and Some Metal Oxides.Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- The Enhanced Durability of AgCu Nanoparticle Coatings for Antibacterial Nonwoven Air Conditioner Filters.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- An overview of regulation for nutraceuticals and concept of personalized nutraceuticals.Journal of generic medicines · 2023Review
- Preventative and therapeutic potential of animal milk components against COVID-19: A comprehensive review.Food science & nutrition · 2023Article
- Antioxidant and Immune-Related Implications of Minerals in COVID-19: A Possibility for Disease Prevention and Management.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Immunomodulatory Role of Microelements in COVID-19 Outcome: a Relationship with Nutritional Status.Biological trace element research · 2023Review
- Copper(II) Chelates of Schiff Bases Enriched with Aliphatic Fragments: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, In Silico Studies of ADMET Properties and a Potency against a Series of SARS-CoV-2 Proteins.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
24 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for both pathogens and the hosts during viral infection. Cu is involved in the functions of critical immune cells such as T helper cells, B cells, neutrophils natural killer (NK) cells, and macrophages. These blood cells are involved in the killing of infectious microbes, in cell-mediated immunity and the production of specific antibodies against the pathogens. Cu-deficient humans show an exceptional susceptibility to infections due to the decreased number and function of these blood cells. Besides, Cu can kill several infectious viruses such as bronchitis virus, poliovirus, human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1), other enveloped or nonenveloped, single- or double-stranded DNA and RNA viruses. Moreover, Cu has the potent capacity of contact killing of several viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Since the current outbreak of the COVID-19 continues to develop, and there is no vaccine or drugs are currently available, the critical option is now to make the immune system competent to fight against the SARS-CoV-2. Based on available data, we hypothesize that enrichment of plasma copper levels will boost both the innate and adaptive immunity in people. Moreover, owing to its potent antiviral activities, Cu may also act as a preventive and therapeutic regime against COVID-19.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.