Investigating the relationship between zinc supplementation and clinical outcomes in children with COVID-19 and critical conditions: a cross-sectional study

Vazifedoost, Farnaz; Khadem Rezaiyan, Majid; Safarian, Mohammad; Khademi, Gholamreza; Sezavar, Majid; Chamani, Ali; Roudi, Fatemeh

doi:10.22038/mjms.2025.82231.4742

Investigating the relationship between zinc supplementation and clinical outcomes in children with COVID-19 and critical conditions: a cross-sectional study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Farnaz Vazifedoost ¹

Majid Khadem Rezaiyan ²

Mohammad Safarian ³

Gholamreza Khademi ⁴

Majid Sezavar ⁴

Ali Chamani ³

Fatemeh Roudi ³

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

² Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

³ Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

⁴ Department of pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

10.22038/mjms.2025.82231.4742

Abstract

Introduction: With the occurrence of the Covid-19 epidemic and the high mortality following it, as well as the importance of childhood, which can lead to the occurrence of adverse clinical outcomes in the aforementioned sensitive group; Correct management of corona disease in children is of particular importance. Considering the anti-inflammatory effects of the zinc element, the possible effects of zinc supplementation on clinical outcomes were investigated.
Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Akbar Hospital in the period of 1402-1403. The case of infected children hospitalized in the intensive care unit between 1399 and 1401 was evaluated. Clinical outcomes including the duration of ventilator connection, secondary infection, duration of hospitalization and mortality were recorded. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 27 software.Results: In this study, a total of 134 patients were evaluated during the study period, of which 76 patients received zinc and 58 patients did not receive zinc. The days of hospitalization in the intensive care unit and the days of hospitalization in the zinc group were significantly higher. The group receiving zinc had a lower mortality rate compared to the group not receiving zinc. Other clinical outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups.
Conclusion: After controlling for possible confounders, the results of our study indicated that the mortality rate increases independently with the lack of zinc intake.

Keywords

covid 19

children

PICU

zinc

inflammation