Micronutrient Status Involved in Immunity in Elderly Patients With COVID-19

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, age was clearly the major factor of mortality. Increasing age was strongly associated with this risk, with the upper 80 years age group having more than 12-fold increased risk compared with those aged 50-59 years. Male gender was also associated with a doubling of risk.

The elderly subject is particularly exposed to global denutrition with risk of micronutrients deficiencies such as vitamins and trace elements. Those deficits expose to lower immunity. In addition, viral infection as COVID-19 can also worsen these deficits.

In general, low levels or intakes of micronutrients such as Zn, Se and vitamin A have been associated with adverse clinical outcomes during viral infections. This notion has been confirmed in a recent review proposing that besides vitamins A and D also B vitamins, vitamin C, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as selenium, zinc and iron should be considered in the assessment of micronutrients in COVID-19 patients.

In this context, the MicroCovAging study will evaluate copper, zinc and selenium, vitamin A, D and E status in elderly subjects affected by COVID- 19 and to correlate this status with prognosis of this disease.