Zinc.

Abstract

Since the discovery of manifest Zn deficiency in 1961, the increasing number of studies demonstrated the association between altered Zn status and multiple diseases. In this chapter, we provide a review of the most recent advances on the role of Zn in health and disease (2010-20), with a special focus on the role of Zn in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, diabetes and obesity, male and female reproduction, as well as COVID-19. In parallel with the revealed tight association between ASD risk and severity and Zn status, the particular mechanisms linking Zn2+ and ASD pathogenesis like modulation of synaptic plasticity through ProSAP/Shank scaffold, neurotransmitter metabolism, and gut microbiota, have been elucidated. The increasing body of data indicate the potential involvement of Zn2+ metabolism in neurodegeneration. Systemic Zn levels in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease were found to be reduced, whereas its sequestration in brain may result in modulation of amyloid β and α-synuclein processing with subsequent toxic effects. Zn2+ was shown to possess adipotropic effects through the role of zinc transporters, zinc finger proteins, and Zn-α2-glycoprotein in adipose tissue physiology, underlying its particular role in pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes mellitus type 2. Recent findings also contribute to further understanding of the role of Zn2+ in spermatogenesis and sperm functioning, as well as oocyte development and fertilization. Finally, Zn2+ was shown to be the potential adjuvant therapy in management of novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), underlining the perspectives of zinc in management of old and new threats.

• Authors: Anatoly V Skalny, Michael Aschner, Alexey A Tinkov
• Journal: Advances in food and nutrition research (Adv Food Nutr Res) Vol. 96 Pg. 251-310 ( 2021) ISSN: 1043-4526 [Print] United States
• PMID: 34112355 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Zinc

Topics

• Alzheimer Disease (metabolism)
• Animals
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (metabolism)
• COVID-19 (metabolism)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Neurodegenerative Diseases (metabolism)
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders (metabolism)
• Nutritional Status
• Obesity (metabolism)
• Parkinson Disease (metabolism)
• Reproduction
• Zinc (deficiency, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• COVID-19 Drug Treatment