The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent for the
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The
COVID-19 pandemic has created unimaginable and unprecedented global health crisis. Since the outbreak of
COVID-19, millions of dollars have been spent, hospitalization overstretched with increasing morbidity and mortality. All these have resulted in unprecedented global economic catastrophe. Several drugs and
vaccines are currently being evaluated, tested, and administered in the frantic efforts to stem the dire consequences of
COVID-19 with varying degrees of successes.
Zinc possesses potential health benefits against
COVID-19 pandemic by improving immune response, minimizing
infection and
inflammation, preventing
lung injury, inhibiting viral replication through the interference of the viral genome transcription, protein translation, attachment, and host infectivity. However, this review focuses on the various mechanisms of action of
zinc and its supplementation as adjuvant for
vaccines an effective therapeutic regimen in the management of the ravaging
COVID-19 pandemic. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent for the
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), has brought unprecedented untold hardship to both developing and developed countries. The global race for
vaccine development against
COVID-19 continues with success in sight with attendant increasing hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. Available drugs with anti-inflammatory actions have become alternative to stem the tide of
COVID-19 with attendant global financial crises. However,
Zinc is known to modulate several physiological functions including intracellular signaling,
enzyme function, gustation, and olfaction, as well as reproductive, skeletal, neuronal, and cardiovascular systems. Hence, achieving a significant therapeutic approach against
COVID-19 could imply the use of
zinc as a supplement together with available drugs and
vaccines waiting for emergency authorization to win the battle of
COVID-19. Together, it becomes innovative and creative to supplement
zinc with currently available drugs and
vaccines.