Hypozincemia and Long COVID symptoms in children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15574/SP.2025.5(149).1419Keywords:
zinc, Zn, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Long COVID, hypozincemia, post-COVID, chronic fatigue, childrenAbstract
Zinc plays a crucial role in the functioning of the immune system, and its deficiency may influence the risk of infection and the severity of infectious diseases.
Aim - to assess the role of hypozincemia in the development of Long COVID and its symptoms in children.
Materials and methods. A prospective cohort study included 127 children with confirmed COVID-19. Serum zinc levels were measured during the acute phase of the disease, and the occurrence of Long COVID symptoms was monitored for 12 months.
Results. Zinc deficiency was detected in 25,2% of children. Long COVID symptoms were recorded in 42,5% of patients, but no statistically significant correlation was found between zinc levels and the development of Long COVID. The most common symptoms were fatigue (46,3%), neurological disorders (27,8%), gastrointestinal symptoms (14,8%), and cardiovascular manifestations (5,6%). Fatigue was observed 1,7 times more frequently, and neurological symptoms 2,2 times more frequently in children with zinc deficiency compared to those with normal zinc levels, but the differences were not statistically significant.
Conclusions. This study did not identify a significant impact of hypozincemia on the development of Long COVID and its symptoms in children. However, the findings highlight the need for further large-scale studies on the role of micronutrients in post-COVID recovery, the influence of nutritional status on post-COVID complications, and the potential benefits of zinc supplementation in COVID-19 patients.
The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the mentioned institution. Informed consent was obtained from all participants.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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