Zinc deficiency is defined either as insufficient zinc to meet the needs of the body, or as a serum zinc level below the normal range. Zinc is a trace element that is essential for regulating the immune system. Zincbinding motifs are found in many proteins encoded by the human genome physiologically, and free zinc is mainly regulated at the singlecell level. The last few years have witnessed the earnest recognition of the vital role of micronutrients in human. The zinc in such foods is more bioavailable, meaning your body can more readily absorb and use it due to animal proteins improving zinc absorption. Zinc has critical effect in homeostasis, in immune function, in oxidative stress, in apoptosis, and in aging, and significant disorders of great public health. Technique for determination of human zinc absorption from measurement of radioactivity in a fecal sample or the body k. Copper and zinc, biological role and significance of. Essential trace elements and their vital roles in human body. This article explains everything you need to know about zinc, its functions, benefits, the risk of deficiency and potential side effects. Zinc is an essential element in the nutrition of human beings, animals, and plants. Human zinc deficiency the journal of nutrition oxford. The human body contains approximately three grams of zinc, the highest concentrations of which are located in the prostate gland and the eye. However, if a person has a poor diet, they are more likely.
Zinc is not only a vital element in various physiological processes. Overview of zinc absorption and excretion in the human. Benefits, deficiency, food sources and side effects. Zinc is a nutrient that plays many vital roles in your body. The total body zinc content of adult humans ranges from about 1. Benefits of zinc zinc is important mineral for the human body and plays a very important role in protein synthesis.
Valberg departments of medicine and nuclear medicine, university hospital and the university of. The national institutes of health say zinc deficiency is rare in the united states. Zinc is widely distributed in both animal and vegetable foods. It can be found in a range of foods, including seafood. Today we know that zinc plays many important roles. Zinc has been identified as one of the most important essential trace metals in human nutrition and lifestyle. This element was discovered by german chemist andreas sigismund marggraf in 1746 at germany 4. Weve already deduced that zinc plays an important role in many bodily processes, and its one of the micronutrients the human body needs for survival. Zinc is important for growth and for the development and health of body tissues.
Powdered zinc is explosive and may burst into flames if stored in damp places. Central to maintenance of zinc homeostasis, however, is the gastrointestinal system, especially the small intestine, liver and pancreas. Specifically, both the processes of absorption of exogenous zinc and gastrointestinal secretion and excretion of endogenous zinc are critical to whole body zinc homeostasis. The normal concentration of zinc in human blood serum and.
In spite of the proven benefits of adequate zinc nutrition, approximately 2 billion people still remain risk of zinc deficiency. It is responsible for a number of functions in the human body, and it helps stimulate the activity of at least 100 different enzymes. The total body zinc content has been estimated to be 30 mmol 2 g. Only a small intake of zinc is necessary to reap the benefits. Zinc is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. Copper and zinc, biological role and significance of copperzinc imbalance josko osredkar1 and natasa sustar2 1university medical centre ljubljana, zaloska cesta 2, ljubljana, slovenia 2general hospital izola, polje 40, 6310 izola, slovenia introduction.
Zinc is required in the genetic makeup of every cell and is an absolute requirement for all. Many researchers were done to identify role of zinc in human body. The story of how zinc achieved acceptance is a very interesting one. It is found in several systems and biological reactions, and it is needed for immune function, wound healing, blood clotting, thyroid function, and much more. Zinc is generally found in strong muscles of the body. When zinc deficiency does occur, it is usually due to inadequate zinc intake or absorption, increased losses of zinc from the body, or increased requirements for zinc 29,30,37.
Although the essentiality of zinc for plants and animals has been known for many decades, the essentiality of zinc for humans was recognized only 40 years ago in the middle east. It is needed for the bodys defensive immune system to properly work. Zinc is also found in many cold lozenges and some overthecounter drugs sold as cold remedies. The emerging role of zinc transporters in cellular. In contrast to the other two metals, for which no role in human physiology is known, zinc is an essential trace element not only for humans, but for. It is found in several systems and biological reactions, and it is needed for immune function, wound healing, blood clotting. The recommended daily intake varies between 712mg of zinc. The zinc concentration of muscles varies with their metabolic functions. He observed that zinc was required for the growth of aspergillus niger. In contrast, zincrich vegetarian foods, such as whole grains, are. Zinc is one of the most common elements in the earths crust. For this reason, zinc requirements for dietary intake are adjusted upward for populations in which animal products, the best sources of zinc, are limited, and in which plant sources of zinc are similarly high in phytates. Since there are no storing systems for zinc in the body, zinc has to be ingested daily and the homeostasis has to be regulated accurately. Zinc is a vital mineral that your body uses in countless ways.
Zinc is an essential mineral that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. Zinc is necessary for the activity of over 300 enzymes that aid in metabolism, digestion, nerve function and many other processes 3. Skeletal muscle accounts for approximately 60 percent of the total body content and bone mass, with a zinc concentration of 1. A normal nonvegetarian diet furnishing sufficient protein will also have enough zinc. Zinc is regularly associated with optimal testosterone levels, and it is often included in food supplements designed to support optimal levels of the male hormone. Human adults were administered 25 mg of zinc as zinc sulfate znso4 in water solution, and iron was added at 25, 50 or 75 mg. Most zinc is in the brain, muscle, bones, kidney, and liver, with the highest concentrations in the prostate and parts of the eye. In spite of the proven benefits of adequate zinc nutrition. So far, blood plasmaserum zinc concentration, dietary intake, and stunting. It is relatively abundant in nature, yet at the same time, overwhelming data suggest that zinc deficiency is one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies worldwide 1. Copper and zinc, biological role and significance of copper zinc imbalance josko osredkar1 and natasa sustar2 1university medical centre ljubljana, zaloska cesta 2, ljubljana, slovenia 2general hospital izola, polje 40, 6310 izola, slovenia introduction the human body has an elaborate system for managing and. Pdf a potential medicinal importance of zinc in human health and. Roughly 24 grams of zinc are distributed throughout the human body. Zinc deficiency has been shown to effect the function of human growth hormone by.
Meats, seafood, dairy products, nuts, legumes, and whole grains offer relatively high levels of zinc. The red and white blood cells, our bones, retina, kidneys, pancreas and liver all store zinc. The body uses zinc for several important processes. There is no information on the taste and odor of metallic zinc. The tenth most common element in the human body, zinc is vital for the functioning of more than. Zinc zn zn is a chemical element with symbol zn and atomic number 30. Zinc is found in the air, soil, and water and is present in all foods.
Zinc is also a necessary element for proper growth and development of humans, animals, and plants. Zinc is needed for the proper growth and maintenance of the human body. The zincdeficient patients had severe immune dysfunctions, inasmuch as they died of intercurrent infections by the time they were 25 years of age. Uses, side effects, interactions, dosage, and warning.
Eight ways zinc affects the human body sciencedaily. Lonnerdal used a dose of zinc similar to that obtained from most meals and studied zinc absorption by using radiolabeled zinc and wholebody counting. Zinc is a chemical element with the atomic number 30, represented by the chemical symbol zn linus pauling institute. Zinc is the second most abundant transition metal in the human body. People at risk of zinc deficiency or inadequacy need to include good sources of zinc in their daily diets. Although by the late 1950s it was well accepted that zinc was a necessary micronutrient for humans and abnormalities of human zinc metabolism had been observed, nutrition scientific opinion at that time tended to dismiss the likelihood of human zinc deficiency, especially of nutritional environmental origin. Zinc absorbed from the intestine is carried to the liver bound to albumin zinc is present in the human body in the concentration of 0. It plays a role in cell division, cell growth, wound healing, and the breakdown of carbohydrates zinc is also needed for the senses of smell and taste. In its pure elemental or metallic form, zinc is a bluishwhite shiny metal. The highest zinc concentrations are found in skeletal muscles that are highly oxidative. In 1961 importance of zinc for human body was recognized. It is the first element of group 12 of the periodic table. Clinical diagnosis of marginal zn deficiency in humans remains problematic. For example, zinc is a part of the super oxide dismutase enzyme, so it also has a role as an antioxidant.
In our studies in an experimental human model of zinc deficiency. It is vital for many biological functions in the human body. However, since a decrease in the serum concentration is only detectable after longterm or severe depletion, serum zinc is not a reliable biomarker for zinc status. Not long ago scientists derided the premise that zinc played a role in human health. Subscribe to receive an email notification when a publication is added to this page. Plasma zinc was reduced significantly with increasing dose of iron. In fact, zinc is the secondmostabundant trace mineral in your body after iron and is present in every cell 2. Semen is particularly rich in zinc, a key factor in prostate gland function and reproductive organ growth. In 1934 the essentiality of zinc for rats was shown 2.
Introduction zinc, a divalent cation, atomic no30 essential micronutrient role of zinc over 300 metalloenzymes and over 2000 transcription for regulation of lipid, protein and nucleic acid metabolism, and gene transcription. January 7, 2010, c kapoor, comments off on benefits of zinc. Zinc is an important mineral that is found in every single cell of the body. Keep an immune system functioning properly by adding zinc to a diet with. Similarly, zinc is an essential nutrient for human health. Technique for determination of human zinc absorption from. It also aids in regulating the production of cells that form the immune system of the body. Zinc sulfate is used to treat and to prevent zinc deficiency zinc sulfate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. From many points of view, zinc is one of the most important trace elements in biological systems. The body of healthy human adults contains 2 to 3 g of zinc and requires around 15 mg of dietary zinc per day. Zinc is a mineral that helps the bodys immune system by stimulating enzymes that help the body break down food. Particularly in developing countries, zinc deficiency is regarded as an important public health issue by scientists 1. Relevance to child health in developing countries pages with reference to book, from 68 to 73 zulfiqar ahmed bhutta department of paediatrics, the aga khan university, karachi.
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