Zinc deficiency compromises its biological functions, its effect on the immune system and its antiviral activity, increasing vulnerability to infectious diseases. This narrative review aims at presenting and discussing functional aspects and possible mechanisms involved in the potential role of zinc in the immune response and antiviral activity for COVID-19 prevention and control. The searches were conducted in PubMed and Science Direct databases, using clinical trials, experimental studies in animals and humans, case-control studies, case series, letters to the editor, and review articles published in English, without restrictions on year of publication. Search approach was based on using the terms: “zinc”, “COVID-19”, “antiviral agents”, “immunologic factors”, and “respiratory tract infections”. Literature shows the importance of zinc as an essential mineral immunomodulator with relevant antiviral activity in the body. Thus, although there is still a scarcity of studies evaluating zinc supplementation in patients with COVID-19, the results on the topic show the necessity of controlling zinc mineral deficiency, as well as maintaining its homeostasis in the body in order to strengthen the immune system and improve the prevention of highly-complex viral infections, such as that of the COVID-19.

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Background: Selenium deficiency appears to limit antioxidant defense in obese individuals. This study evaluated the association between adiposity indices, selenium status, and oxidative stress in obese women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 139 women who were divided into the following two groups: the case group (obese women, n = 63) and the control group (normal-weight women, n = 76). Plasma, erythrocyte, and urinary selenium levels were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Body weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference and neck circumference were measured. Body mass index, waist/height ratio, conicity index, body fat index, body adiposity index, body circularity index, and visceral adiposity index were calculated. Plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were determined. The erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity was determined using an automatic biochemical analyzer and Ransel kit. Results: Obese women had selenium deficiency characterized by reduction in plasma and erythrocyte concentrations (P < .001). The urinary selenium excretion was higher in the case group compared to the control group (P < .001).Adiposity indices values and plasma concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were significantly elevated in obese women (P < .001). There was a significant association between adiposity indices and selenium status (P < .001), and between erythrocyte selenium and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity (P < .001). Conclusion:Obese women evaluated in the study have reduced plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of selenium and an increased urinary excretion of selenium. The correlation analysis reveals an association between intra-abdominal fat accumulation and selenium metabolism and oxidative stress.

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Introduction: Obesity is associated with the development of other chronic diseases, such as dyslipidemia, characterized by increased plasma concentrations of triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-c and reduction of HDL-c. In order to identify mechanisms involved in these disorders, magnesium has been studied for regulating important enzymes in lipid metabolism. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between dietary magnesium content and lipid profile in obese women. Methodology: Cross-sectional and analytical study with women divided into two groups: case (obese, n = 25) and control (eutrophic, n = 42). Magnesium intake was analyzed by a three-day food record using the Nutwin program. Serum lipid concentrations were determined according to the colorimetric enzymatic method in an automatic biochemical analyzer. Results: Macronutrient intake values were within the recommended ranges in both groups. Magnesium intake was below the recommendations, with no statistical difference between the studied groups (p> 0.05). Serum TC and LDL-c concentrations were higher and HDL-c lower in obese women compared to eutrophic women (p <0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between dietary magnesium and LDL-c concentrations in the control group (p <0.05). However, there was no correlation between micronutrient intake and lipid profile parameters in the case group. Conclusion: The results do not suggest the participation of magnesium in the protection against changes in lipid profile in obese women.

INTRODUCTION: Malnutrition and kala-azar (or visceral leishmaniasis) are significant public health problems in different parts of the world. Immunity and susceptibility to infectious and parasitic diseases are directly linked to the host’s nutritional state, but little is known about the interaction between nutrition and kala-azar. This study aimed to evaluate nutritional status with kala-azar and correlate these findings with the clinical and laboratory manifestations of the disease, and zinc and retinol levels. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 139 patients with kala-azar. Nutritional status classification was performed according to international recommendations. Parametric or nonparametric tests were applied whenever indicated in a two-sided test with a 5% significance level. RESULTS: Weight loss and malnutrition were more frequent in adults. Body mass index-for-age, fat area of the arm, and upper arm muscle area were significantly associated with probability of death. The presence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly was correlated with nutritional assessment. Blood leukocyte and lymphocyte, serum creatine, and vitamin A levels were significantly higher in adult men. Vitamin A levels were highly associated with the level of hemoglobin and C-reactive protein (CRP) in multivariate analysis. All patients had reduced plasma zinc levels, but this finding had no association with the outcome variables. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition was correlated with severe disease and was more prevalent in older people with kala-azar. Vitamin A deficiency was associated with hemoglobin and CRP. Zinc levels were reduced in patients with kala-azar.