Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Zinc as a Drug for Wilson's Disease, Non-Alcoholic Liver Disease and COVID-19-Related Liver Injury.
Coni, Pierpaolo; Pichiri, Giuseppina; Lachowicz, Joanna Izabela; Ravarino, Alberto; Ledda, Francesca; Fanni, Daniela; Gerosa, Clara; Piras, Monica; Coghe, Ferdinando; Gibo, Yukio; Cau, Flaviana; Castagnola, Massimo; Van Eyken, Peter; Saba, Luca; Piludu, Marco; Faa, Gavino.
  • Coni P; Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
  • Pichiri G; Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
  • Lachowicz JI; Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
  • Ravarino A; Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
  • Ledda F; Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
  • Fanni D; Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
  • Gerosa C; Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
  • Piras M; Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
  • Coghe F; Dipartimento Servizi di Diagnosi e Cura, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari (A.O.U.), University of Cagliari, 09024 Cagliari, Italy.
  • Gibo Y; Hepatology Clinic, 1-34-20 Muraimachiminami, Matsumoto, Nagano 399-0036, Japan.
  • Cau F; Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
  • Castagnola M; Laboratorio di Proteomica e Metabonomica-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00013 Rome, Italy.
  • Van Eyken P; Department of Pathology, Genk Regional Ziekenhuis, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
  • Saba L; Department of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria (A.O.U.), di Cagliari-Polo di Monserrato s.s. 554, 09045 Monserrato, Italy.
  • Piludu M; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
  • Faa G; Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
Molecules ; 26(21)2021 Oct 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1488679
ABSTRACT
Zinc is the second most abundant trace element in the human body, and it plays a fundamental role in human physiology, being an integral component of hundreds of enzymes and transcription factors. The discovery that zinc atoms may compete with copper for their absorption in the gastrointestinal tract let to introduce zinc in the therapy of Wilson's disease, a congenital disorder of copper metabolism characterized by a systemic copper storage. Nowadays, zinc salts are considered one of the best therapeutic approach in patients affected by Wilson's disease. On the basis of the similarities, at histological level, between Wilson's disease and non-alcoholic liver disease, zinc has been successfully introduced in the therapy of non-alcoholic liver disease, with positive effects both on insulin resistance and oxidative stress. Recently, zinc deficiency has been indicated as a possible factor responsible for the susceptibility of elderly patients to undergo infection by SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we present the data correlating zinc deficiency with the insurgence and progression of Covid-19 with low zinc levels associated with severe disease states. Finally, the relevance of zinc supplementation in aged people at risk for SARS-CoV-2 is underlined, with the aim that the zinc-based drug, classically used in the treatment of copper overload, might be recorded as one of the tools reducing the mortality of COVID-19, particularly in elderly people.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Zinc / Liver Type of study: Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Journal subject: Biology Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Molecules26216614

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Zinc / Liver Type of study: Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Journal subject: Biology Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Molecules26216614