Deficiency of antioxidants and increased oxidative stress in COVID-19 patients: A cross-sectional comparative study in Jigawa, Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 is a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 which has infected over 74 million people, killing more than 1,600,000 million people around the world as of 17th December 2020. Accumulation of free radicals coupled by weakened antioxidant system leads to oxidative stress, which will further worsen respiratory diseases, COVID-19 inclusive. This study aimed to examine the levels of some antioxidants and oxidative stress markers in COVID-19 patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study in which 50 COVID-19 symptomatic patients who were on admission at the COVID-19 isolation center in Jigawa, Northwestern Nigeria, were recruited. Twenty one (21) apparently healthy individuals were included as controls. Levels of antioxidant trace elements (Se, Zn, Mg, Cu and Cr), 8-isoprostaglandin F2 alpha and malondialdehyde in the plasma and erythrocytes activity of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were determined. Results: The plasma concentrations of vitamins A, C and E were significantly lower ( p < 0.001) in COVID-19 patients than controls. Activities of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase were lower in COVID-19 subjects than controls ( p < 0.001). The concentrations of Se, Zn, Mg and Cu were significantly lower ( p < 0.001; p = 0.039; p < 0.001; and p < 0.001), respectively, in COVID-19 patients than controls, while chromium showed no significant difference ( p = 0.605). Oxidative stress marker, 8-isoprostaglandin F2 alpha, was significantly higher ( p = 0.049), while malondialdehyde was lower ( p < 0.001) in COVID-19 patients than controls. Conclusion: In conclusion, COVID-19 patients are prone to depleted levels of antioxidant substances due to their increase utilization in counterbalancing the negative effect of free radicals. Furthermore, COVID-19 infection with other comorbidities, such as malaria, hypertension and diabetes, are at higher risk of developing oxidative stress.

Usefulness of oxidative stress marker evaluation at admission to the intensive care unit in patients with COVID-19

“…Muhammad et al 20 showed that patients with COVID-19 had increased OS and decreased antioxidant status, with deteriorated CAT and MPO activities. In contrast, Gaud et al 21 revealed increased CAT and MPO levels in viral infections, which are correlated with clinical progression. Thus, it has been observed that OS levels change in COVID-19 and other viral infections; however, which parameters change and the pathophysiological mechanisms have remained unclear.…”

Metabolic Implications of Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Process in SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis: Therapeutic Potential of Natural Antioxidants

“…Since lipid peroxidation is a primary event during cell injury, a number of disease conditions including diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis, ischemia-reperfusion, heart failure, Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatic arthritis and some immunological diseases are associated with increased formation of lipid peroxides and aldehydes ( Sadati Zarrini et al., 2016 ). A cross-sectional study of COVID-19 patients in a hospital reported elevated levels of malondialdehyde, which was attributed to oxidative stress ( Muhammad et al., 2021 ).…”

Antioxidant Therapy in Pancreatitis

“…Under conditions of oxidative stress or in the presence of an Nrf2 activator, Nrf2 and Keap1 separate, and Nrf2 travels to the nucleus where it binds to the antioxidant response element gene. This will then result in the up-regulation of antioxidant genes and anti-inflammatory molecules [ 35 , 36 ] ( Figure 1 ). Downstream target proteins of the pathway include heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase 1, glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) [ 37 , 38 ].…”

“…However, benefits to antioxidant supplementation in the most infamous inflammatory disease raging over the world have been recently reported. Vitamin supplementation has been having a good year due to the overwhelming evidence that patients with COVID-19 have a significant depletion of antioxidants likely from increased utilization in counterbalancing free radicals [ 36 ]. In a recent review, due to strong combined evidence and international expert opinion, supplementation with vitamins in the battle against this global pandemic was a reasonable strategy [ 55 ].…”