ZINC — A POWERFUL IMMUNE SYSTEM BEATS COVID-19 | 锌 — 一种能击败COVID-19的强力免疫系统

Contributions by: Prof Ian Brighthope, Partner with Nutrition Care Pharmaceuticals

Zinc is a trace element present in our diet in such foods as fish, red meat, whole grains and a rich supply in oysters. It is essential for the proper functioning of all the cells of the body. It is a co-factor for many enzymes and plays a role in mood, memory, perception, learning, detoxification, liver function and most importantly in the proper functioning of the immune system. In fact, with the advent of the SARS-CoV2 (Covid-19) in late 2019, there has been an acceleration of the interest in the functioning of the human immune system and the stimulation of the immune system to resist the infection. A zinc deficiency or insufficiency results in reduced numbers and potency of immune cells. This results in an increased risk of infectious diseases, inflammatory disorders, psychological disorders, serious mental illness and some cancers. Those at risk of zinc insufficiency include the aged, alcoholics, sugarholics, the obese, diabetics and patients with inflammatory disorders. The most common symptoms of a zinc insufficiency are the loss of the sense of smell and taste, cravings for sugars, fatigue, aches, recurrent infections and poor memory and concentration. There have been many studies to show that zinc can actually prevent and effectively treat acute viral respiratory infections, including the deadly blood vessel complications caused by Covid-19.

Zinc has been shown to preserve the integrity of the natural tissue barriers of the respiratory system. It prevents the virus entering the cells lining the airways. Zinc increases the number, length and beating of the fine hairs lining the airways thus improving the expulsion of the virus. This helps to reduce the risk of secondary bacterial infections. Zinc also helps the cells lining the airways to stick together and prevent viral invasion. Inflammation in the airways is reduced with zinc and, very importantly in Covid-19, it improves the tolerance of the lung towards damage induced by mechanical ventilation.

Once a virus enters a cell, it starts to replicate very quickly. However, zinc has a direct virus killing ability. It does this by preventing many viruses from binding onto the cell to which it is dependent for its survival, prevents it from manufacturing its own proteins, blocks its release from cells and destabilises its protective envelope.

Regarding the body’s immune response to a virus, it must remain balanced, otherwise an excessive response can result in an outpouring of important chemicals called cytokines and serious imbalance. Such an imbalance causes the ‘storm’ now commonly know in Covid-19 patients who are seriously Ill in intensive care.These cytokines have scary names such as C-reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor, interleukin, free radicals and reactive nitrogen species. Sounds like a battleground and it is. There is a further recruitment of overactive immune cells that start attacking the lungs and spreading elsewhere to wreak havoc on many other organs. This includes significant damage to the heart, brain and kidneys to mention a few. The other problem with Covid-19 is the long-term effects including the possibility of chronic fatigue and possibly Parkinson’s disease. This is now called Long-Covid. We know that many viruses and other infections can trigger a serious post-viral syndrome. It appears that Covid-19 can do the same and it is worse. Patients who have deficiencies of vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc and suffer an acute viral infection are more likely to develop a post viral syndrome.

The syndrome is worse in patients who have the risk factors for Covid-19 mentioned earlier. It is interesting that there is a significant overlap between the groups with zinc deficiency and the Covid-19 risk groups.

Clinical studies specifically on the effects of zinc supplementation on Covid-19 are being conducted. However, the evidence from the scientific literature strongly suggests great benefits of zinc supplementation in the prevention and treatment of all other coronavirus respiratory infections. There is also a very sound molecular basis to the use of zinc.

Imagine a fortress with the first lines of defence the moat and turrets removed and the gates unlocked. The invader simply marches in unopposed and conquers. Regard zinc as the equivalent of the moat, turrets and lock. This is what we refer to as the non-specific defence mechanism of the human immune system without which we die and if insufficient, we get Covid-19. Also, please remember the other psychological benefits of adequate zinc nutriture.

If zinc was a drug, the medical profession would be falling over themselves to prescribe it. There is a massive volume of scientific literature attesting to the successful use of zinc. Many famous people have defeated the pandemic virus using it in conjunction with the natural partners Vitamin C and the hormone Calcitriol, formerly know as Vitamin D. Powerful natural agents of defence.

锌已被证明可以保护呼吸系统天然组织屏障的完整性。它能阻止病毒入侵呼吸道内壁细胞。锌可以增加呼吸道细毛的数量、长度和跳动，从而促进病毒的排出。这有助于减少继发性细菌感染的风险。锌还可以使得呼吸道内壁的细胞粘在一起，防止病毒入侵。锌可以减轻呼吸道炎症。尤其在对抗新冠病毒方面，它可以提高肺对机械通气引起的损伤的耐受性。病毒一旦进入细胞，就开始快速复制。然而，锌具有直接杀死病毒的能力。这是通过阻止病毒与它赖以生存的细胞结合的方式实现的，从而阻止了病毒制造其自身的蛋白质，阻止病毒从细胞中释放，并破坏病毒保护膜的稳定性。

机体对病毒的免疫反应需要平衡，否则过度的反应会导致重要的化学物质细胞因子的分泌和严重的不平衡。这种不平衡导致了目前在重症监护的新冠患者中常见的“风暴”。这些细胞因子有一些可怕的名字，如c反应蛋白、肿瘤坏死因子、白细胞介素、自由基和活性氮。听起来像是一场艰难的战斗，事实也的确如此。过度活跃的免疫细胞进一步聚集，开始攻击肺部，并扩散到其他地方，对许多其他器官造成严重破坏，包括心脏、大脑和肾脏。新冠的另一个问题是它的长期影响，包括可能出现慢性疲劳和帕金森病。它现在被称为长期新冠病情。我们知道许多病毒和其他感染会引发严重的病毒后综合症。新冠病毒似乎也能做到这一点，而且情况更糟。缺乏维生素C、维生素D和锌并患有急性病毒感染的患者更有可能发展为病毒后综合症。新冠病毒也会导致同样这状况，甚至更糟。缺乏维生素C、维生素D和锌而且患有急性病毒感染的患者，更有可能出线病毒后综合症。

之前提到的新冠高风险人群中，该综合症更为严重。我们能观察到缺锌人群和新冠高危人群有显著的重叠。

目前已开展有关补充锌对新冠疫情影响的临床研究。然而，来自科学文献的证据强烈表明，补充锌对预防和治疗其他冠状病毒呼吸道感染状况有很大的益处。锌的使用也具有极其充分的分子基础。

想象一个拥有第一道防线的堡垒，没有护城河和炮塔，大门开启。侵略者可以毫不费力地前进并取得胜利。如果把锌看作是护城河、炮塔和闸门之类的防御措施。这可以看作是我们所说的人类免疫系统的非特异性防御机制，如果没有它，我们就会死亡；如果不足，我们就会患上新冠。而且，充足的锌对心理健康也有很多好处。

如果锌是一种药物的话，医学界会争先恐后地开这种药。有大量的科学文献证明锌的好处和作用。许多著名人士将它与天然搭档维生素C和激素骨化三醇（以前称为维生素D）一起使用。这些都是强大的天然防御力量。

伊恩·布莱特霍普教授