Association between COVID-19 and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors with the spotlight on zinc: an opinion |
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| Authors: | Bashar Khiatah Amylee Amos Deborah Carlson |
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| Affiliation: | aDepartment of Internal Medicine, Community Memorial Hospital, Ventura, CA, USA;bAmos Institute, Ventura, CA, USA; c Program Director, Internal Medicine Department, Community Memorial Hospital, Ventura, CA, USA |
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| Abstract: | In the setting of the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the search for innovative therapeutics is desperately sought after. As we learn more about the characteristics and metabolic health of patients and as our understanding of COVID-19 pathophysiology and treatment progresses, so is our understanding of medication effects that might increase disease severity. As of late, ACE inhibitors have been under investigation for a potential increase in illness severity due to ACE2 upregulation. Given our knowledge of other nutrient-pharmaceutical interactions, could the ACE inhibitor impact on COVID be due to something else? In this paper, we discuss the possibility that ACE inhibitors might be affecting COVID-19 patients by causing zinc insufficiency.KEY MESSAGES- Zinc deficiency caused by chronic ACE inhibitor usage may exacerbate the pathogenicity of COVID-19 in susceptible patients.
- A multi-center study is needed to assess the zinc levels of patients with COVID-19 who are taking ACE inhibitors and other medications that may result in low zinc levels.
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| Keywords: | COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Zinc Critical Care Nutrition ACEI |
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