Micronutrients Supplementation in Pregnant Women during COVID-19 Pandemy: Pros and Cons

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

3 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

Coronavirus can negatively affect the immune system. This complication can be exaggerated in pregnant women with micronutrient and elemental deficiencies. Also, coronavirus itself can induce micronutrients malabsorption and result in their severe deficiencies that can lead to increased risk of infection in these groups of patients. Serum calcium, zinc, iron, and selenium values have a positive correlation with PO2 values and a negative correlation with severe COVID-19 infection, lung involvement, fever, and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration. In this mini-review study, the safety and efficacy of different suggested micronutrients including zinc, selenium, iron, vitamin A, C, D, E, and myo-inositol in pregnant women with COVID-19 have been discussed. According to the clinical practice findings and previous reports, administration of essential micronutrients including zinc, selenium, and iron and vitamins including vitamin A, B8, C, D, and E with optimum recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) during pregnancy would be promising and suggestive to improve maternal/neonatal complications during COVID-19 infection due to the enhanced immunity system against viral infection and COVID-19 pneumonia.

Keywords


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