Zinc benefits functions disorders | Mineral | Health knowledge

RECOMMENDED DIETARY ALLOWANCE 

The daily requirement  for zinc for adult men and for adult women were set at 9.4 mg and  6.8mg respectively. The RDAs were set at : 
Male= 11mg.
Female= 8mg.
The RDA for zinc during pregnancy = 11mg/day.
The zinc recommendation for lactating women = 12mg/day.

ZINC FUNCTIONS

In Metalloenzymes

Zinc is part of more enzyme systems when compared to all the rest of the trace minerals. Enzymes (70-200) from each class of enzyme (oxidoreductases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, transferases, and ligases) require zinc. As an essential part of metalloenzymes they:
  • Provides structural integrity to the enzyme by binding directly to amino acid residues and thereby stabilizing the enzyme’s tertiary structure
  • participates in reaction at the catalytic site of enzymes.
  • Following is the list of important enzymes in which zinc is bound.
  • Carbonic anhydrase
  • Alkaline phosphatase
  • Alcohol dehydrogenase
  • Carboxypeptidases A and B and Aminopeptidases
  • Delta (Δ)-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Phospholipase C
  • Polyglutamate Hydrolase
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases  
  • Polymerases, Kinases, Nucleases, Transferases, Phosphorylases and Transcriptases
  • Being an essential part of these enzymes, zinc is involved in the following functions:
  • acid–base balance/buffering and respiration
  • phosphate digestion
  • NADH-dependent conversion of alcohols to aldehydes.
  • protein digestion
  • heme synthesis
  • antioxidant
  • signal transduction
  • folate digestion
  • wound healing and tissue repair
  • involve in DNA and RNA metabolism

Zinc and Gene Expression

Zinc plays an important role in the regulation of gene transcription. To perform this function, zinc binds to transcription factors (proteins). Binding of zinc to transcription factors causes conformational change in the shape of the transcription factor protein such that it resembles a “finger.” Zinc fingers is the term used to specify the secondary configuration of the transcription factor proteins when they are bound to zinc. About 30 amino acids held together by one zinc atom are thought to make up a zinc finger; the zinc, attached to four of the amino acids through cysteine residues or a combination of cysteine and histidine residues, help to stabilize the structure. These zinc fingers, once formed, interact with specific DNA sequences, called metal response or regulatory elements (MREs), located in the promoter region of selected genes to either enhance or repress transcription. Moreover, some zinc finger proteins may interact with mRNA to suppress translation.

Zinc and Insulin

Zinc is involved with insulin and hence is involved in metabolism of carbohydrates. Zinc is transported into pancreatic beta-cells by zinc transporters ZnT5 and ZnT8. Beta-cells of the pancreas are the cells that are responsible for the production of insulin and its secretion. Once synthesized, insulin is stored along with zinc in the form of granules in beta-cells of pancreas until it is released into the blood. Deficiency of zinc decreases the response of insulin, resulting in impaired glucose tolerance. Zinc also appears to regulate the protein kinase mammalian target of rapamycin (mTor), thereby affecting insulin signaling and protein-synthesis pathways that occur when insulin binds to cell receptors.

Zinc and Immune System

Zinc status of an individual affect’s majority of the immunological events such as hematopoiesis, immune cell function and survival, humoral immunity and cytokines secretion. Hence, decrease in zinc concentration in the body is reported in increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. It has been observed that deficiency of zinc may lead to atrophy of thymus resulting in the formation of immature T-cells which ultimately leads to a depressed immune system.  Immune response can be divided into innate and adaptive immune responses. Zinc found to play a role in both of these responses. The effect of zinc in both mechanisms is due to its role in basic cellular functions like DNA replication, RNA transcription, proliferation, differentiation and immune cell activation.

Read More Articles

Choosing the Best Pillow for Sleep Apnea


Unique Fresh Green Bean Recipes 


How Long Do Lionhead Rabbits Live As Pets | Lifespan of a lionhead rabbit 


Inspire Sleep Apnea Horror Stories: Triumph Over Adversity


Which Magnesium Is Best For Sleep And Anxiety | Which Is The Best Direction To Sleep


Best Time To Drink Green Tea For Weight Loss | Does Green Tea Dehydrate You


Unlocking Unlimited Free Traffic to Any Affiliate Link | Myth of Unlimited Website Traffic Generators







Zinc and Oxidative Stress

Under physiological conditions, zinc does not act as an antioxidant because it does not participate in redox reactions. However, it is considered as a pro-antioxidant as it protects the cell from damaging effects of oxygen radicals produced during inflammation. Zinc released from thiolate bonds protects membrane lipids from oxidative damage during inflammation.

Zinc and Brain

Zinc is one of the most abundant trace metals in the brain. More than 80% of the zinc in the brain is bound to protein structures, participating in signaling processes or acting as co- factor. Free aqueous zinc is mainly present in synaptic processes of glutaminergic neurons mostly in the hippocampus, amygdala and cerebral cortex where it serves as an signaling ion and neuromodulator. It has been reported that zinc is involved in all the developmental processes of the brain which includes proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, maturation, migration, myelination as well as synaptogenesis and pruning. Hence, deficiency of zinc during the embryonic stage results in teratogenic effects. 

DISORDERS RELATED TO ZINC LEVELS

Disorder due to Deficiency

Deficiency of zinc may lead to the following complications:
  • Mental lethargy
  • Neurosensory problems
  • Thymic atrophy
  • Skin lesion 
  • Decreased wound healing
  • Acrodermatitis
  • Diarrhea
  • Infertility
  • Hypogonadism
  • Growth retardation
  • Immune dysfunction
  • Disorders associated with zinc deficiency:
  • Alzheimer disease
  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Epilepsy
  • ADHD
  • Mood disorder schizophrenia
  • ALS
  • Friedrich ataxia
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Diabetes
  • Sickle cell anemia
  • Acrodermatitis enteropathica
  • Depression
  • Night blindness
  • Zinc deficiency may be due to a restricted diet (with low zinc content) or due to congenital defects like mutation in the zinc transporter ZIP4.
Zinc benefits functions disorders | Mineral | Health knowledge

Disorders due to Toxicity

No particular disorders have been reported due to toxicity; however, some complications may arise due to higher (toxic) intake of zinc than recommended. These complication include:
  • metallic taste
  • headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • epigastric pain
  • abdominal cramps
  • bloody diarrhea. 

 Moreover, reduced immune function and changes in copper and iron levels may occur. Chronic ingestion of zinc in amounts around 40 mg may result in a copper deficiency as well as neurologic complications such as numbness, weakness, ataxia and spastic gait. Zinc taken intranasally (spray or gel) has been reported to cause anosmia (permanent loss of smell) in some individuals. The tolerable upper intake level for zinc is 40 mg daily depending on its interaction with copper.

Zinc benefits functions disorders | Mineral | Health knowledge
Search Tags
Benefits zinc
Best sources of zinc
Can i take zinc while pregnant
Daily dosage of zinc
Daily zinc dosage
Deficiency in zinc
Food sources for zinc
Foods that are high in zinc
How does zinc help the immune system
How does zinc help your body
What are the benefits of taking zinc
Zinc and testosterone
Zinc plating near me
Zinc recommended daily intake