Essential trace elements and their vital roles in human body. The human body contains 23 g of zinc, mostly intracellular. Found in cells throughout the body, zinc helps your immune system fight off bacteria and viruses, which explains why its been investigated as a potential treatment for the common cold. Zinc also is an antioxidant and has antiinflammatory actions. It is found in several systems and biological reactions, and it is needed for immune function, wound healing, blood clotting. Only a small amount occurs in the plasma and is predominantly bound to albumin. Important functions, health benefits, and side effects. Zinc is a chemical element with the atomic number 30, represented by the chemical symbol zn linus pauling institute. It plays a key role in the synthesis and stabilization of genetic material.
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. Many researchers were done to identify role of zinc in human body. Such a process may occur because of tissue homeostasis, morphogenesis, and tissue repair. Only a small intake of zinc is necessary to reap the benefits.
The human body contains about 2 g of zinc, of which only 0. There are reports that cirrhosis of liver, pernicious anaemia, and myocardial infarction occur. Matrix metalloproteinases mmps are a family of proteolytic zinccontaining enzymes involved in physiological as well as in pathological processes in the human organism. Although the amount of copper found in the human body 50120 milligrams would fit on the head of a pin, this tiny quantity is essential. Boosts fertility zinc is the most widelystudied nutrient regarding human fertility, and its fertilityboosting properties are perhaps its bestknown role. Clinical diagnosis of marginal zn deficiency in humans remains problematic. Zinc zn zn is a chemical element with symbol zn and atomic.
Zinc and immunity zinc affects multiple aspects of the immune system 6,7,8. In fact, increasing zinc levels to a normal level increased the pregnancy rate in those studies. Zinc is also found in many cold lozenges and some overthecounter drugs sold as cold remedies. The history of our understanding of the role of zinc in human nutrition and disease provides an excellent example of the mutual benefits of closely linking nutrition research in industrialized nations with that in the developing world.
Zinc deficiency has been shown to effect the function of human growth hormone by. Human body requires minerals for maintaining health, even though some of which are needed in trace amount. Common symptoms include increased rates of diarrhea. 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. Pdf since its first discovery in an iranian male in 1961, zinc deficiency in humans. 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. Zinc is an important factor in t3 binding to intracellular receptors in the body.
Human zinc deficiency the journal of nutrition oxford. The important role of zinc for immunocompetence and the presence of a negative crude zinc balance in old mice and humans. The main functions of the human body where magnesium deficiency symptoms may arise are neurological, muscular, and metaboliccardiovascular. Zinc is an essential element in the nutrition of human beings, animals, and plants. Zinc is required in the genetic makeup of every cell and is an absolute requirement for all. However, remodeling could also be a part of many pathological. Zinc is an important trace mineral that people need to stay healthy. The total body zinc content has been estimated to be 30 mmol 2 g. It is vital for many biological functions in the human body. The therapeutic roles of zinc in acute infantile diarrhea, acrodermatitis enteropathica, prevention of blindness in patients with agerelated macular degeneration, and treatment of common cold with zinc have been reported.
Copper and zinc, biological role and significance of copper. In women, zinc is needed for the body to efficiently utilize the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone. In men, zinc is needed to manufacture the outer layer and tail of the sperm. 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. In this paper, the role of zinc in cellmediated immunity and its role as an antioxidant and an antiin. The clinical features of severe zinc deficiency in humans are growth retardation. Zinc participates in more than 200 enzymatic reactions in the body. From many points of view, zinc is one of the most important trace elements in biological systems. The path and the role of zinc zn in organisms biological role of zn zinc is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism 8. The role of matrix metalloproteinase in human body pathologies.
It is essential for many physiological functions and plays a signi. It is now known that zinc is essential to over 100 enzymes in the body. Several zinc trials in infertile couples have improved deficient sperm count and sperm function. Apr 19, 2014 from many points of view, zinc is one of the most important trace elements in biological systems. 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. Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the body and the second most abundant intracellular cation after potassium. Bioinformatics estimates report that 10% of the human proteome contains zincbinding sites.
Jun 06, 2019 functions, role in the body, and health benefits. Zinc is known to play a central role in the immune system, and zinc deficient persons experience increased susceptibility to a variety of pathogens. The immunologic mechanisms whereby zinc modulates increased susceptibility to infection have been studied for several decades. Pdf a potential medicinal importance of zinc in human health and.
It plays a role in cell division, cell growth, wound healing, and. Zinc status in humans can be assessed in plasma, serum, erythrocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, urine, and hair 43. Zinc is also vital to the synthesis of dna deoxyribonucleic acid and rna ribonucleic acid and is therefore important for cell division. Zinc is an essential micronutrient for human health. Your body relies on zinc for wound healing as well your ability to taste and. Zinc is a chemical element with the atomic number 30, represented by the chemical symbol zn. In this next section, we will look at some of the primary functions of zinc and the potential health benefits it may confer. This greatly facilitates the transport of zinc within the body. It is found in traces in all body tissues the content being 1. Zinc zn is an essential nutrient for all forms of life and its importance lies in the fact that many body functions are linked to zinc containing enzymes1.
It is required for the catalytic activity of more than 200 enzymes 9,10 and. Zinc is essential for normal development and function of cellmediating innate immunity, neutrophils, and natural killer cells. Zinc is second most trace mineral in the body after iron. Zinc and the body what is the role of zinc in the body. It also aids in regulating the production of cells that form the immune system of the body. He observed that zinc was required for the growth of aspergillus niger.
Plasma zinc was reduced significantly with increasing dose of iron. Magnesium is an essential cofactor for a diverse metabolic reactions involving more than 300 enzymes within the human body. The last five years have seen a virtual explosion of interest and understanding of the spectrum of functions of zinc at subcellular levels. Similarly, zinc is an essential nutrient for human health. The physiology of of oxidative enzymes the essential nature of copper in the human body results from its incorporation in many basic oxidative enzymes. It is needed for the bodys defensive immune system to properly work. Of the trace minerals, this element is second only to iron in its concentration in the body. The nutritional relationships of zinc trace element. Benefits, intake, sources, deficiency, and side effects. Mmps play a key role in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Uses, side effects, interactions, dosage, and warning. It is vital for activating growth and physical and neurological development in infants, children and teenagers. It is therefore considered as essential for tissue growth.
The total body zinc content of adult humans ranges from about. January 7, 2010, c kapoor, comments off on benefits of zinc. Benefits, deficiency, food sources and side effects. 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. Zinc is required in the genetic makeup of every cell and is an absolute requirement for all biologic reproduction.
Importance of magnesium in the human body all natural ideas. Body zinc content is regulated, by homeostatic mechanisms, over a wide range of intake by changes in fractional absorption normally 2040% and urinary 0. The rda for adult males is 11mgday and 8mgday for females. Zinc is involved in the conversion of t4 to t3 through the deiodinase enzyme and helps synthesize retinolbinding protein, which transports vitamin a to body tissues. The story of how zinc achieved acceptance is a very interesting one. Zinc is a mineral that helps the bodys immune system by stimulating enzymes that help the body break down food. The last few years have witnessed the earnest recognition of the vital role of micronutrients in human health. Dec 05, 2017 it is responsible for a number of functions in the human body, and it helps stimulate the activity of at least 100 different enzymes. Zinc plays a key role in growth, and for this reason, it is a vital nutrient for young children.
In these enzymes, zinc may have a regulatory role or be required for structure or for catalytic activity. Facts about zinc ydietary zinc is absolutely essential for our. 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. Nov 14, 2018 zinc is a nutrient that plays many vital roles in your body. Zinc is poorly absorbed from the intestine and most of it is excreted in the faeces. Facts about zinc ydietary zinc is absolutely essential for our body.
The human body contains 23 g zinc, and nearly 90% is found in. Zinc is generally found in strong muscles of the body. It is a component of more than 300 enzymes and an even greater number of other proteins, which emphasizes its indispensable role for human health. A normal nonvegetarian diet furnishing sufficient protein will also have enough zinc. Copper and zinc, biological role and significance of. In 1961 importance of zinc for human body was recognized. The last few years have witnessed the earnest recognition of the vital role of micronutrients in. It is required for the catalytic activity of approximately 100 enzymes 1,2 and it plays a role in immune function 3,4, protein synthesis, wound healing, dna synthesis 2,4, and cell division. It is also present in red blood cells and blood serum. For example, zinc is a part of the super oxide dismutase enzyme, so it also has a role as an antioxidant. Zinc is vital for immune system function and a mild insufficiency results in compromised innate and adaptive immunity. Zinc is one of the most important trace elements in the organism. However, lyme disease appears to cause zinc to be sequestered hidden or stored by the body in an attempt to reduce the growth and proliferation of the lyme disease bacteria borrelia burgdorferi kehlfie, et al, 2010. Zinc is an essential mineral that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement.
Mohssan department of chemistry, college of science, mustansiriyah university, baghdad, iraq. Why the human body hides zinc from borrelia bacteria. It is responsible for a number of functions in the human body, and it helps stimulate the activity of at least 100 different enzymes. Keep an immune system functioning properly by adding zinc to a diet with. Zinc is known to play a central role in the immune system, and zincdeficient persons experience increased susceptibility to a variety of pathogens. Essential trace elements and their vital roles in human body falah s. An overview of zinc and its importance in dermatology. Zincbinding motifs are found in many proteins encoded by the human genome physiologically, and free zinc is mainly regulated at the singlecell level. It is vital for more than 300 enzymes in the human body, activating growth height. Zinc is a nutrient that plays many vital roles in your body.
Lonnerdal used a dose of zinc similar to that obtained from most meals and studied zinc absorption by using radiolabeled zinc and wholebody counting. It was estimated that about 10% of human proteins potentially bind zinc, in addition to hundreds which transport and traffic zinc. The last few years have witnessed the earnest recognition of the vital role of micronutrients in human. Jan 20, 2014 boosts fertility zinc is the most widelystudied nutrient regarding human fertility, and its fertilityboosting properties are perhaps its bestknown role. This article explains everything you need to know about zinc, its functions, benefits, the risk of deficiency and potential side effects. Zinc is important for growth and for the development and health of body tissues. Nov 11, 2008 zinc is a mineral that helps the body s immune system by stimulating enzymes that help the body break down food. Zinc is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. Today we know that zinc plays many important roles. The highest concentration of it occurs in the liver, pancreas, kidneys and brain. In the structural role, zn coordinates with certain protein domains, resulting in protein folding and producing structures such as zn introduction in human beings, zinc zn constitutes less than 0. Trace element zinc is important in maintaining the healthy growth of the human body, especially for infants and young childrens growth and development. In 1934 the essentiality of zinc for rats was shown 2. 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 the human body has an elaborate system for managing and.
The emerging role of zinc transporters in cellular. Skeletal muscle accounts for approximately 60 percent of the total body content and bone mass, with a zinc concentration of 1. Just as vitamins, minerals play an important role in several different functions of the body. Dietary minerals participate in many biochemical and physiological processes. Lonnerdal used a dose of zinc similar to that obtained from most meals and studied zinc absorption by using radiolabeled zinc and whole body counting. Since the importance of magnesium in the human body affects three main areas, lets take a look at some of the common symptoms for each. Zinc has critical effect in homeostasis, in immune function, in oxidative stress, in apoptosis, and in aging, and significant disorders of great public health. Zinc is needed for the proper growth and maintenance of the human body. The clinical spectrum and public health significance of human zinc deficiency severe zinc deficiency.
Research has revealed that copper is vital for the optimal health of the human body, along with other mineral micronutrients such as iron, calcium and zinc. It is needed for the body s defensive immune system to properly work. It is necessary for cell division and the synthesis and degradation of hydrocarbons, lipids and proteins. Benefits of zinc zinc is important mineral for the human body and plays a very important role in protein synthesis. 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.
455 1249 25 432 712 9 1615 983 1629 706 1679 371 1535 1504 229 1405 788 1007 1478 596 887 1482 386 858 123 351 63 1015 333 156 861 813 100 854 351 1288 1290 714