Vitamin D, Zinc and Iron in Adult Patients with Covid-19 and Their Action in the Immune Response as Biomarkers

Abstract

COVID-19 in 2020 brought challenges to the Brazilian public health system with an emerging virus with respiratory contagion called SARS-CoV-2. There are few studies in Brazil and in some countries, on the increased incidence of certain viral respiratory infections, including H1N1 and coronavirus and their association with low levels of vitamin D, zinc and iron. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that the deficit of vitamin D, zinc and iron has an impact on the infectious process of patients with COVID-19 and to establish new forms of prevention for the worsening of COVID-19 in the human body. Data were collected from medical records and test results from patients being followed up during the treatment period for COVID-19. Patients with low blood levels of vitamin D, zinc and iron during the treatment period of COVID-19 had a higher percentage of worsening and complications requiring hospitalization in intensive care beds. The ingestion of vitamin D, zinc and iron in the treatment period of patients with COVID-19 in addition to being an immunological protector against SARS-CoV-2 and alleviating the process of worsening the disease can also act as a biomarker in cases of this disease.

COVID-19 in Socially Vulnerable Patients with Tuberculosis in Brazil

“…The diagnosis of Tuberculosis during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic requires high clinical suspicion, as the two diseases have similar clinical signs, such as fever and mild or severe respiratory symptoms (Ramos et al, 2022). In addition, it is highlighted in this study that two patients were simultaneously diagnosed with COVID-19 and undiagnosed preexisting tuberculous disease (infection detected by chest X-ray) (Husain et al, 2020).…”

“…This study is the first case report in patients with Tuberculosis and COVID-19 in the vulnerable population. Thus, there is a great challenge for Brazilian public health to overcome the challenges inherent in the management of both diseases (Motta et al, 2020;Ramos et al, 2022). However, Brazil has taken new health policy decisions to meet the needs and help patients of socially vulnerable population in response to the pandemic (Andrade Junior et al, 2020).…”

“…Another important factor is the age of patients, since it is the reason that can influence the increase in mortality in vulnerable of population in patients with COVID-19, when compared to other patients with other viral diseases that develop pneumonia or other injuries (Ramos et al, 2022;Vesga et al, 2020;Togun et al, 2020;STOP;Partnership, 2020).…”

“…Recent scientific evidence suggests that individuals with tuberculosis are considered infectious as are individuals with SARS-CoV-2 (Zhou et al, 2020;Ramos et al, 2022). Thus, these diseases can spread quickly in the indigenous community due to the lack of inherited immunity, culminating in a high fatality rate among the elderly, as well as in patients with comorbidities such as Diabetes Mellitus.…”

“…Tuberculosis and undergoing treatment occurred at the end of April 2020 in the vulnerable population of Mato Grosso do Sul State/Brazil. Therefore, after the notification of a patient with COVID-19 and Tuberculosis at the end of April 2020, the Brazilian socially vulnerable health department implemented a series of blocks across the socially vulnerable population in an attempt to interrupt the virus cycle, transmission and the redirection of resources, human and health infrastructure as an emergency response to the national effort to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil (Ministério da Saúde, 2019; Ramos et al, 2022). Thus, these actions required the reconfiguration of current models of primary care in socially vulnerable health to support the new social distancing and preventive measures (WHO, 2020).…”