Tldr; it might help to take zinc.
Out of 249 studied patients, there was 8% (21 patients) mortality. The investigators found a significantly lower plasma level of zinc in COVID-19 patients who died (43 μg/dl) than the patients who survived (63.1 μg/dl). After adjusting different variables, the investigators showed each unit increase of plasma zinc at the time of hospital admission resulted in a 7% reduced risk of in-hospital mortality.
Big maybe, since this is a correlation. Supplementation could have no effect. It is also pales in comparison to the effect of vaccinations.
It might aswell indicate that severe COVID causes reduced levels of zinc. Correlations need to be tested experimentally (e.g., like the vaccines).
Exactly. This is a preliminary study, and I’m worried that like with so many preliminary studies the anti-vaxxers will run with it as a substitute for vaccination.