Zinc is needed for immune cell development and communication and plays an important role in inflammatory response. A deficiency in this nutrient significantly affects your immune system’s ability to function properly, resulting in an increased risk of infection and disease, including pneumonia. What’s more, supplementing with zinc may be beneficial for those who are already sick. In a 2019 study in 64 people hospitalized with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs), a daily dose of zinc decreased the total duration of infection and the duration of the hospital stay by an average of 2 days. Currently, multiple tests are taking place with health care workers to see if zinc helps protect from coronavirus.