A preliminary study released at an online European conference hints at the possible link between lower blood levels of zinc and poorer health condition of people with COVID-19.

Dr Roberto Fernandez from Spain led the study, which looked at the people admitted to hospital from mid-March to the end of April.

Fasting zinc levels of these women and men (611 and aged 63 on an average) were taken during the course of the study. Other medical data and pre-existing conditions were also taken into consideration for the study.

The team of researchers focused on the sample of only 249 patients including 21 who died. The zinc levels of people who survived were much more than people who succumbed to the disease, 63.1 and 43 micrograms per deciliter respectively.

After considering all other factors, it was found that each unit increase in blood levels of zinc at the time of admission was associated with a 7 per cent lower risk of dying at the hospital.

Lower zinc levels at the time of admission at the hospital are correlated with higher inflammation during the course of infection.