Impact of the discovery of human zinc deficiency on health.

Abstract

The essentiality of zinc in humans was established in 1963. During the past 50y, tremendous advances in both clinical and basic sciences of zinc metabolism in humans have been observed. Growth retardation; cell-mediated immune dysfunction, and cognitive impairment are major clinical effects in human. At present we know of >300 enzymes and >1000 transcription factors that require zinc for their activities. Zinc is a second messenger of immune cells, and intracellular free zinc in these cells participate in signaling events. Zinc has been very successfully used as a therapeutic modality for the management of acute diarrhea in children, Wilson's disease, the common cold and for the prevention of blindness in patients with age-related dry type of macular degeneration. Zinc not only modulates cell-mediated immunity but is also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Zinc supplementation in the elderly results in decreased incidence of infections, decreased oxidative stress and decreased generation of inflammatory cytokines.

• Authors: Ananda S Prasad
• Journal: Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) (J Trace Elem Med Biol) Vol. 28 Issue 4 Pg. 357-63 (Oct 2014) ISSN: 1878-3252 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 25260885 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Zinc

Topics

• Dietary Supplements
• Hepatolenticular Degeneration (prevention & control)
• Humans
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• Zinc (therapeutic use)