Zinc Supplementation Prevents the Complications of COVID-19 Infection in Cancer Patients

Abstract

Novel coronavirus” SARS-CoV-2 is rapidly spreading worldwide with a significant mortality rate. In the crisis of COVID-19, cancer patients are seen as a very weak group and this is because of their weakened immune system and hence we aim in this research to show the importance of zinc as a buffer against cancer in COVID-19 for cancer patients. Zinc is an essential trace element that is crucial for growth, development, and the maintenance of immune function. zinc supplementation decreased and generation of inflammatory cytokines. zinc supplementation should have beneficial effects on cancer by decreasing oxidative stress, angiogenesis and induction of inflammatory cytokines while increasing apoptosis in cancer cells. zinc supplementation implemented to improve the antiviral response and systemic immunity in patients with cancer diseases. With the multiple doses approved from zinc, we suggest that there be an supplement in zinc by 50 mg / day for three month with each treatment for cancer patients, in order to strengthen the immune system to prevent the serious effects of COVID19 infection.

Introduction

Novel coronavirus” SARS-CoV-2 is rapidly spreading worldwide with a significant mortality rateSARS-CoV-2 is a new coronavirus called acute respiratory syndrome, and has been identified to be the cause of pneumonia [1]. In the COVID-19 crisis, cancer patients are seen as a very vulnerable group [2]. As many studies have shown that patients with cancer have a higher risk of severe clinical events than those without cancer.However, many of the critical issues regarding treatment principles for cancer patients with COVID-19 remain unclear [3]. Trace minerals, especially zn (Zn), have a very prominent role in various physiological and pathological aspects, which has been proven widely in recent years [4]. Zinc is an essential component that plays important roles in various biochemical reactions in many biological systems [5] such as its role as an anti-oxidant due to its being an cofactors of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme, this enzyme plays an important role in protecting the organism from oxidative stress, thus preventing the onset and development of tumor events [6]. Oxidative stress is implicated as a pathophysiological mechanism of different diseases and is a topic of growing interest [7]. The importance of zinc in biological processes is explained by the idea that its deficiency may play an important role in cellular imbalance, including the development and /or development of cancer [8]. A central clinical feature of zinc deficiency is the increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. This led researchers to speculate that zinc must be important for host immunity [9]. We aim, through this research, to highlight the importance of zinc for cancer, as a preventive treatment against corona infection, and this is in the absence of any clear and specific treatment course.

COVID-19 infection and cancer diseases

Cancer patients are more likely to develop COVID-19 than individuals without cancer due to their immunosuppressive condition caused by malignant tumors [10]. Moreover, cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery are factors that inhibit the immunity of patients with cancer who are at risk of developing an COVID-19 epidemic viral more than others [11]. Which proves that patients with cancer are susceptible to infection with viruses, a study completed during the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic of 2009, where the results confirm that patients with cancer have cases of pneumonia by (66%) more than others, and that the death rate among patients Cancer was higher (18.5%) after 30 days compared to the general population [12]. One of the mechanisms of immune response against COVID19 is the cytokine release syndrome (CRS) which seems to affect patients with severe conditions [13]. Since lymphocytopenia is often seen in severe COVID-19 patients, the CRS caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus has to be mediated by leukocytes other than T cells, as in patients receiving CAR-T therapy; a high WBC-count is common, suggesting it, in association with lymphocytopenia, as a differential diagnostic criterion for COVID-19 [14]. In light of the pandemic of COVID-19, which overcame the health systems of countries, which threatens the health of cancer patients from two sides, either in terms of postponing treatment appointments, which is a risk to patients and increases the development of the disease [15], or either cancer patients can be called to hospitals and here the risk of infection and infection with COVID-19 increases [16].

Role of zinc in immune system

Zinc is vital for normal development and function of cells mediating innate immunity, NK cells and neutrophils [17]. Zinc deficiency affects multiple aspects of the immune system, from the barrier of the skin to gene regulation within lymphocytes [18]. The importance of zinc for proper immune function is best observed in zinc-deficient individuals. Zinc deficiency affects Phagocytosis, intracellular killing, and cytokine production and also the growth and function of T and B cells [19]. The development of acquired immunity is affected also by zinc deficiency through preventing both the outgrowth and certain functions of T lymphocytes such as activation, Th1 cytokine production, and B lymphocyte help [20]. Likewise, B lymphocyte development and antibody production, particularly immunoglobulin G, is compromised. Zinc deficiency adversely affects the macrophage, which a pivotal cell in many immunologic functions, which can dysregulate intracellular killing, cytokine production, and phagocytosis [21]. Patients with zinc deficiency show symptoms in the immune system such as a decline in the number of lymphocytes, especially helper T cells with an increase in cytotoxic T cells and monocyte cytotoxicity, with reduced activity of natural killer (NK) cell [22]. The immunologic mechanisms whereby zinc modulates increased susceptibility to infection have been studied for several decades. The influence of zinc on viral infections depends on zinc status at baseline measurement, zinc supplementation concentration and frequency, zinc species and age [23].

Zinc in cancer disease

Since many studies focus on the causes and treatment of breast cancer, but still many important and unknown elements have a role in this disease [24], including the role of trace elements that play important roles in biological processes related to breast cancer, including zinc, which is a very important component that is active as an element [25]. It is essential in activating many of the enzymes involved in the synthesis of DNA and RNA, where many studies indicate that low levels of zinc in the blood are diagnosed for many malignant diseases, including cancerous diseases [26]. Zinc has been implicated in mediating apoptotic cell death. Both indirect and direct apoptotic effects of zinc have been demonstrated in cancerous cells [27], which illustrate that zinc active cell growth arrest at G2/M according to the dose used. zinc has been attributed also in inducing the expression of p21, a cyclin-dependant kinase inhibitor known to govern cell progression at this phase [28]. Changes in blood zinc has been found in lymphoproliferative disorders as well as in breast, lung and gastrointestinal tumors [29]. Research indicates that the concentrations of zinc in the serum or plasma are low in people with cancer [30], which is consistent with severals study, which confirms that there is a strong relationship between low levels of zinc and cancer [31-32].

Predictable effects of zinc supplementation

It has been proven that zinc deficiency is the cause of many imbalances in the body in terms of slowed growth or susceptibility to disease, through many studies conducted on humans and animals [33], but a zinc supplement can correct these imbalances and is also useful for resistance against severe recidivistic infections or aging disease [34]. Zinc has been shown to have important therapeutic effects, such as its role in acute diarrhea, intestinal dermatitis [35] and its therapeutic role against aging diseases such as prevention of blindness in patients with macular degeneration as well as its role in relieving colds [36]. Zinc also enhances the up-regulation of A20 mRNA in HL-60 cells (promyelocytic leukemia cell line), which decreases NF-κB activation, IL-1β and and IL-8 leading to decreased gene expression and generation of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) [37]. On the other hand, zinc supplementation in young people and the elderly is very important in reducing oxidative stress and generating inflammatory cytokines, which allows the prevention of several diseases [38]. Also, zinc supplementation works to reduce vascular generation and induce inflammatory cytokines, which reflects the beneficial effects of zinc against cancers [39]. It has been clinically discovered that zinc supplementation has a primary role in inhibiting rhinovirus 3C protease and viral replication [40].

Therapeutic doses of zinc

The total zinc content in the human body amounts to 2–4 g, with a plasma concentration of 12–16 μM [41]. The average adult requires approximately 8 to 11 mg of zinc per. The use of zinc as a treatment with a studied dose can have a positive effect against chronic and acute viral infections and also can reduce the symptoms associated with this infection [42], either by activating the immune response in patients who suffer from zinc deficiency, or using a zinc supplement as a protective factor to inhibit viral replication or infection-related symptoms [43]. In a study conducted on rats, it was proven that doubling the zinc ratio five times over the normal value in food reduces the effects of oxidative stress in the testicles caused by diabetes [44]. The use of a zinc supplement at a dose of 10 mg with 6 times / week for 6 months a significant decrease in the prevalence malaria with 22% fewer fever episodes than the placebo group [45]. In a clinical trial conducted on children, it proved that the use of supplemental zinc at a dose of 20 mg / day reduced the duration of their pneumonia, which contributed to reducing the length of their stay in the hospital [46]. On the other hand, a number of researchers confirmed that the use of routine zinc supplements for a period of three months had a positive effect In reducing the severity of infections of the lower respiratory tract in children as well [47]. Also, in another study, it was pointed out that the great benefits of zinc supplements that are taken daily at a dose of 20 mg to prevent infection and reduce viral infections in healthy older adults [48]. Several analyzes of the results of previous studies have shown that oral zinc supplementation reduces the incidence of acute respiratory infections by 35%, reduces the duration of influenza-like symptoms by about two days, and also increases the rates of recovery among patients. Also, several other studies conducted in the United States India, South Africa and Peru demonstrated the positive effect of zinc supplementation, whose dose ranged from 20mg/week to 92mg/day [49-50]. Using a high dose (1 mg / kg) of zinc as a supplement can improve several symptoms such as diarrhea, weight loss, frequent viral and bacterial infection, skin inflammation, hair loss and neuropsychiatric disorders [51]. On the other hand, common cold symptoms can be reduced by taking zinc supplements at a dose of more than 75 mg / day in healthy people [52]. However, excessive use of zinc has undesirable effects such as low copper level, low iron function, red blood cell abnormalities, decreased neutrophils and decreased immune function by consuming zinc for long periods at doses ranging from 50-150 mg / day [53].

In conclusion, with the multiple doses approved from zinc, we suggest that there be an supplement in zinc by 50 mg / day for three month with each treatment for cancer patients, in order to strengthen the immune system to prevent the serious effects of COVID19 infection.

Acknowledgements

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.