Zinc is needed to slow viral RNA replication and it also regulates inflammatory cytokines. Anosmia and ageusia, as reported in COVID-19 and also common symptoms of flu, are classic signs of zinc deficiency. Zinc ions are potently antimicrobial.
Chloroquine, which is showing promise as anti-coronavirus agents, enhances cellular zinc uptake. This might be one piece of why it seems to be beneficial.
What we’re doing: We are prescribing zinc lozenges, about 50+ mg/day (so 3-5 depending on dose). We recommend allowing them to slowly dissolve on the tongue. When used at the first sign of a sore throat, our experience is that zinc lozenges should resolve it. We know that COVID is present in abundance in oropharynx and it’s our hope that local zinc exposure might help as a preventative.
Kara Fitzgerald, ND, received her doctor of naturopathic medicine degree from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She completed the first Counsel on Naturopathic Medicine-accredited post-doctorate position in nutritional biochemistry and laboratory science at Metametrix Clinical Laboratory under the direction of Richard Lord, PhD. Her residency was completed at Progressive Medical Center, a large, integrative medical practice in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Fitzgerald is the lead author and editor of Case Studies in Integrative and Functional Medicine and is a contributing author to Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine and the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)’s Textbook for Functional Medicine. With the Helfgott Research Institute, Dr. Fitzgerald is actively engaged in clinical research on the DNA methylome using a diet and lifestyle intervention developed in her practice. The first publication from the study focuses on reversal of biological aging and was published 04-12-2021 in the journal Aging. She has published a consumer book titled Younger You as well as a companion cookbook, Better Broths and Healing Tonics and has an application-based Younger You Program, based on the study.
Dr. Fitzgerald is on the faculty at IFM, is an IFM Certified Practitioner and lectures globally on functional medicine. She runs a Functional Nutrition Residency program, and maintains a podcast series, New Frontiers in Functional Medicine and an active blog on her website, www.drkarafitzgerald.com. Her clinical practice is in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.
Additional publications
Hi Lucas,
We’re thinking that zinc is essential at all stages-from prevention to recovery- given its important role in inhibiting viral replication. If you can find the reference you’re mentioning that challenges this idea, send it to me. I’d be curious to see it. Thanks DrKF
Christine, Some zinc lozenges taste so horrible people won’t allow them to slowly dissolve in the mouth (which is what one needs to do for them to be locally virocidal). Thus, I tend to be OK with those brands that are higher in zinc (10-15mg per tab) and taste pretty good. Most commonly, I use Professional Formulas. Whole Foods has a tolerable one, too. Yes, there IS sugar-and some of my colleagues understandably disagree with me- but if taste limits adherence, I am OK with a little bit of sugar use. DrKF
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I cannot remember where I heard It, on a podcast somewhere that cover-19 is aided by zinc so a higher zinc inhibition may not be the best route?
Hi Lucas,
We’re thinking that zinc is essential at all stages-from prevention to recovery- given its important role in inhibiting viral replication. If you can find the reference you’re mentioning that challenges this idea, send it to me. I’d be curious to see it. Thanks DrKF
which Zinc lozenges would you recommend??
Christine, Some zinc lozenges taste so horrible people won’t allow them to slowly dissolve in the mouth (which is what one needs to do for them to be locally virocidal). Thus, I tend to be OK with those brands that are higher in zinc (10-15mg per tab) and taste pretty good. Most commonly, I use Professional Formulas. Whole Foods has a tolerable one, too. Yes, there IS sugar-and some of my colleagues understandably disagree with me- but if taste limits adherence, I am OK with a little bit of sugar use. DrKF
What about taking Zinc as a daily supplement?
Hi,thanks for sharing knowledge of zinc’s role in a healthy diet I hope you will share more info of zincs food thanks again
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