Observational studyBMC infectious diseases2021
The correlation between serum selenium, zinc, and COVID-19 severity: an observational study.
Observational study in BMC infectious diseases, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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
29 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 48 citations in OpenAlex.
- Role of Metals on SARS-CoV-2 Infection: a Review of Recent Epidemiological Studies.Current environmental health reports · 2023Pooled it
- The Association Between Antioxidants and COVID-19 Outcomes: a Systematic Review on Observational Studies.Biological trace element research · 2023Pooled it
- Selenium serum levels in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of nutritional science · 2023Pooled it
- Circulating trace elements status in COVID-19 disease: A meta-analysis.Frontiers in nutrition · 2022Pooled it
- Serum zinc level independently predicts need for inpatient intubation among patients hospitalized with COVID-19: A prospective observational study.Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition · 2026Observational
- Association of zinc deficiency and clinical symptoms, inflammatory markers, severity of COVID-19 in hospitalized children.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Article
- Antioxidant Nutraceuticals: Their Adjunct Role in the Management of COVID-19 Infections and Post-COVID Syndrome.Infectious disorders drug targets · 2025Review
- A systematic review: The relationship of COVID-19 to iron, zinc, and vitamin D.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2023Article
- The association between dietary intakes of zinc, vitamin C and COVID-19 severity and related symptoms: A cross-sectional study.Clinical nutrition ESPEN · 2023Article
- Could Selenium Supplementation Prevent COVID-19? A Comprehensive Review of Available Studies.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Immunomodulatory Role of Microelements in COVID-19 Outcome: a Relationship with Nutritional Status.Biological trace element research · 2023Review
- Selenium Status and Oxidative Stress in SARS-CoV-2 Patients.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2023Article
- COVID-19 Severity Is Associated with Selenium Intake among Young Adults with Low Selenium and Zinc Intake in North Carolina.Current developments in nutrition · 2023Article
- Association of Serum Zinc and Inflammatory Markers with the Severity of COVID-19 Infection in Adult Patients.Nutrients · 2023Observational
- Relationship between selenium status, selenoproteins and COVID-19 and other inflammatory diseases: A critical review.Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) · 2023Review
- Plant-based diet and COVID-19 severity: results from a cross-sectional study.BMJ nutrition, prevention & health · 2023Article
- Article
- A six-month study of anti-SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination: A comparative analysis of essential trace elements and anti-RBD IgG sera levels.Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) · 2022Article
- The impact of vitamin and mineral supplements usage prior to COVID-19 infection on disease severity and hospitalization.Bosnian journal of basic medical sciences · 2022Article
- Nutraceuticals and Dietary Supplements for Older Adults with Long COVID-19.Clinics in geriatric medicine · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
14 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundWithout an adequate immune response, SARS-CoV2 virus can simply spread throughout the body of the host. Two of the well-known immunonutrients are selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn). Se and Zn deficiency might lead to inflammation, oxidative stress, and viral entry into the cells by decreasing ACE-2 expression; three factors that are proposed to be involved in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Thus, in the current study we aimed at evaluating the correlation between serum Se and Zn status and COVID-19 severity.
methodsEighty-four COVID-19 patients were enrolled in this observational study. Patients were diagnosed based on an infectious disease specialist diagnosis, using WHO interim guidance and the recommendations of the Iranian National Committee of Covid-19. The patients with acute respiratory tract infection symptoms were checked for compatibility of chest computed tomography (CT) scan results with that of Covid-19 and Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for corona virus infection. The severity of Covid-19 was categorized into three groups (mild, moderate, and severe) using CDC criteria. Serum Zn and Se level of all subjects was measured. The severity of the disease was determined only once at the onset of disease.
resultsAccording to the results of linear regression test, there was a significant association between Zn and Se level and COVID-19 severity (β = - 0.28, P-value = 0.01 for Se; β = - 0.26, P-value = 0.02). However the significance disappeared after adjusting for confounding factors. Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant negative association between serum Zn, Se and CRP level (r = - 0.35, P-value = 0.001 for Se; r = - 0.41, P-value < 0.001 for Zn).
conclusionResults suggest that increasing levels of Se and Zn were accompanied by a decrease in serum CRP level. However, the significant association between Se, Zn, and disease severity was lost after adjusting for confounding factors.
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Registered trials
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