Micronutrient status and fatty acid profile of adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection-an observational study

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 infection is a complex disease with multiple dimensions, involving factors that promote infection and virus-driven processes in many body organs. The micronutrient status, beyond others, acts as a potential confounder, influencing susceptibility to infection and disease severity. Additionally, the virus appears to alter lipid metabolism, which may serve a dual function, suppor viral replication while simultaneously contributing to the body’s defense and repair mechanisms. Methods: This observational study compared micronutrient levels (vitamin D, selenium, zinc, magnesium, and iron) and lipid profiles between 139 SARS-CoV-2 -positive patients (62 hospitalized, 77 home care) and 314 healthy controls, using dried blood spots. We also examined differences by treatment setting (hospitalized vs. home care) as a proxy for disease severity. Results: Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection exhibited similar micronutrient levels but showed a significantly impaired lipid profile compared to healthy controls. Notably, there was a significant decrease in palmitic (p-value < 0.01) and stearic acid levels (p-value < 0.01) and a significant increase in omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs, like AA (p-value < 0.01), DHA (p-value < 0.01), and EPA (p-value < 0.05) were detected. In the SARS-CoV-2 positive cohort, hospitalized patients had significantly lower micronutrient levels (p < 0.01 for all measured micronutrients) compared to those receiving home care. Discussion: These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection alters lipid metabolism and that lower micronutrient status may be linked to greater disease severity.