The University of Toledo Translation Journal of Medical Sciences 
Infectious Diseases Abstract, Department of Medicine Research Symposium UTJMS 2023 May 5; 11(1):e1-e1 

Do Zinc Supplements Reduce Mortality in 
Patients with COVID-19? A Systematic 
Review and Meta-Analysis 
Ziad Abuhelwa, MD1*, Salik Khuder, PhD 

1Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo, 
Toledo, OH 43614 

*Corresponding author: Ziad.Abuhelwa@utoledo.edu

Published: 05 May 2023 

Introduction: Zinc is a trace element that has major role in human immune system. This study aims to 
assess the clinical benefits of zinc supplements on all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19.  

Method: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies that 
evaluated the clinical efficacy of zinc supplements in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The outcome 
was all-cause mortality rate. Pooled relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (ICs) 
were calculated and combined using a random-effects model.  

Results: A total of 6 studies (3 randomized clinical trials and 3 retrospective observational studies) that 
included 1,670 patients with COVID-19 (855 received zinc supplements vs. 812 received standard of 
care without zinc) were included in our systematic review. Our meta-analysis showed that there is 
statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality rate between the two groups favoring zinc 
supplements (RR 0.66; 95%CI 0.54 - 0.81; P <0.0001)  

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that zinc supplements in addition to standard of care can reduce 
all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19. 

https://dx.doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol11-2023-749 

https://dx.doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol11-2023-749
mailto:Ziad.Abuhelwa@utoledo.edu