Keywords
As of March 16th, the number of deaths due to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) outside of China has surpassed those in China. Intriguingly, recent calculations that adjust for an incubation period of up to 14 days estimate that the mortality rates from COVID-19 infection in China are nearly three times lower than outside of China [
[1]
]. It should be realized that, amongst others differences, China is known for having very high sodium intake compared to other countries in the world [[2]
]. Human pathogenic coronaviruses bind to their target cells through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2), which is expressed in epithelial cells of the lung, intestine, kidney, and blood vessels [[3]
]. Importantly, animal-based studies have demonstrated that the tissue expression of the ACE2 receptor is down-regulated in response to a high dietary sodium intake [- Wan Y.
- Shang J.
- Sun S.
- et al.
Molecular mechanism for antibody-dependent enhancement of coronavirus entry.
J Virol. 2020; 94 (19. Print 2020 Feb 14)https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.02015
[4]
,[5]
].Combined, these experimental and epidemiological data led us to hypothesize that low sodium balance may augment cellular damage at a certain virus load and increase the risk of developing severe and fatal COVID-19 infection. If this hypothesis were to be confirmed, it could lead to a conflict because, besides being a target for COVID-19, ACE2 also has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to protect against acid aspiration-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome [
[6]
].Besides habitual dietary salt intake, more acute changes in sodium balance might also influence ACE2 receptor expression. Intermittent sodium loss, either due to diarrhea, vomiting or perspiration could put patients that acquire COVID-19 infection at higher risk for development of a more severe or fatal course of disease. It seems wise to monitor sodium intake and start with sodium and fluid resuscitation early in the course of more severe COVID-19 infection, and perhaps also to refrain from robust sodium restriction during the current COVID-19 outbreak.
References
- Real estimates of mortality following COVID-19 infection.Lancet Infect Dis. 2020;
- Global, regional and national sodium intakes in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis of 24 h urinary sodium excretion and dietary surveys worldwide.BMJ Open. 2013; 3 (e003733,2013–003733)
- Molecular mechanism for antibody-dependent enhancement of coronavirus entry.J Virol. 2020; 94 (19. Print 2020 Feb 14)https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.02015
- Angiotensin AT2 receptor agonist prevents salt-sensitive hypertension in obese Zucker rats.Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2015; 308 (F1379-85)
- High-salt diet increases glomerular ACE/ACE2 ratio leading to oxidative stress and kidney damage.Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2012; 27 (1793-800)
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 protects from severe acute lung failure.Nature. 2005; 436 (112-6)
Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 07, 2020
Accepted:
April 2,
2020
Received:
March 24,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
