As few as 2 and as many as 37 zinc fingers occur on generegulating proteins. In its pure elemental or metallic form, zinc is a bluishwhite shiny metal. Plasma zinc was reduced significantly with increasing dose of iron. Zinc has a key role as a catalyst in a wide range of reactions. It is responsible for a number of functions in the human body, and it helps stimulate the activity of at least 100 different enzymes. Of the trace minerals, this element is second only to iron in its concentration in the body. 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. In 1961 importance of zinc for human body was recognized. This article explains everything you need to know about zinc, its functions, benefits, the risk of deficiency and potential side effects.
We should warn you that there are two serious misconceptions that you may get from this book. Powdered zinc is explosive and may burst into flames if stored in damp places. Zinc is a nutritionally essential mineral that has a wide range of roles in the human body it is also one of the most widespread deficiencies in the world, with an estimated two billion people around the world having an inadequate intake. Uses, side effects, interactions, dosage, and warning.
For this reason a healthy human weighing 60 kilogrammes contains around a tenth of one gramme of copper. Zinc affects multiple aspects of the immune system. About 1 percent of the dna in human cells specify zinc fingers. Zinc is a nutrient that plays many vital roles in your body. Zinc is found in organs, tissues, bones, fluids, and. Human zinc deficiency the journal of nutrition oxford. It plays a role in cell division, cell development, injury healing, and the breakdown of carbs. However, zinc requirement in developing fetus, children, pregnant women, and adolescence is higher. 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. The major function of zinc in human metabolism is as a cofactor for numerous enzymes. Zinc is one of the most important microelements in human body. When oxidative stress occurs, it may be due to a shortage of zinc. Minerals, like vitamins, are chemicals that the human body needs to function properly, but unlike vitamins, minerals come entirely from the earth and always retain their chemical identity. Sandstead and others published the role of zinc in human health find, read and cite all the research you need on.
The importance of zinc was 1st reported for aspergillus niger. It influences on many metabolic processes and provides proper functioning of ali body as well as tbe skin. The total body zinc content of adult humans ranges from about. It is needed for the body s defensive immune system to effectively work. Zinc protects from free radicals and uv radiation, regulates keratinization and. Zinc is widely distributed in both animal and vegetable foods. Role of zinc in human body pdf what is the role of zinc in the body. The human body contains 23 g zinc, and nearly 90 is found in muscle and.
Benefits, intake, sources, deficiency, and side effects. Zinc is one of the most common elements in the earths crust. Copper function in human body how much copper in your body. The body requires zinc to develop and activate tlymphocytes 2,53. A variety of foods is therefore vital to meet the body s vitamin and mineral requirements. Boron, nickel, silicon, and vanadium have been shown to have biological functions in plants and some animals but essentiality for humans has not been demonstrated nasiom. 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. Since the discovery of zinc deficiency as a human health problem in 1961,1 interest in.
Zinc is crucial for normal development and function of cells mediating innate immunity, neutrophils, and nk cells. The nutrients known to be essential for human beings are proteins, carbohydrates, fats and oils, minerals, vitamins and water. Zinc promotes immune functions and helps people resist infectious diseases including diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria 14. 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. The essentiality of zinc for life and in human physiology zinc is a trace nutrient indispensable for life. In this article, we examine some of the key functions and potential health benefits of zinc. Zinc is an important trace mineral that people need to stay healthy. They are not manufactured by the body although found in body tissues and fluids. Scientists first recognized human zinc deficiency in. Particularly in developing countries, zinc deficiency is regarded as an important public health issue by scientists 1. The majority of zinc in the human body is stored in bone.
Eight ways zinc affects the human body sciencedaily. Keep an immune system functioning properly by adding zinc to a diet with. It is needed for the body s defensive immune system to properly work. Copper and zinc, biological role and significance of. Bone cell formation nerve cell formation muscle tissue formation v red blood cell formation \. He observed that zinc was required for the growth of aspergillus niger.
Proteins proteins are made of amino acids, small units necessary for growth and tissue repair. There is no information on the taste and odor of metallic zinc. Zinc fingers have been identified in species as diverse as yeast to human beings. Subsequently, zinc was found to be essential for the normal development of plants 277 and for normal growth of rats 411 and birds. No single food contains the full range of vitamins and minerals, and inadequate nutrient intake results in deficiencies. To achieve this, the following issues are addressed. Daily intakes of several minerals are necessary for the continued basic functioning of the human body. The human body contains approximately three grams of zinc, the highest concentrations of which are located in the prostate gland and the eye. Vitamin and mineral requirements in human nutrition. Zinc is not only a component of bone but also an essential cofactor of many proteins involved in microstructural stability and bone. One misconception is that any part of the human body exists in a static state. However, zinc does not appear to improve nutrient levels in the body so that the body can function properly. Infants born weighing less than 2500 grams 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Bile helps to maintain a suitable ph of the duodenal contents and thus helps the action of all the enzymes.
Zinc is also needed for healthy pregnancies 14 globally, 17. 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. The human body contains 23 g zinc, and nearly 90% is found in. It was a chemist from the university of lyon, france, professor jules raulin, who reported in 1869 that zinc was needed for the growth of this organism.
Trace element zinc is important in maintaining the healthy growth of the human body, especially for infants and young childrens growth and development. Many researchers were done to identify role of zinc in human body. The adult daily requirement is 12 to 15 mg in a day. The objective of this paper is to provide a current overview of the significance of zinc in human nutrition. The first hint that zinc played an important role in life processes came in 1869, when the mineral was found to be essential for the growth of a fungus, aspergillus niger. Bile is an important source of alkali for neutralising the hydrochloric acid entering the intestine from stomach. The essential mineral zinc is absorbed from the intestine.
Phagocytosis, intracellular killing, and cytokine production all are affected by zinc deficiency. Minerals and trace elements british nutrition foundation. Zinc deficiency has been shown to effect the function of human growth hormone by. In 1934 the essentiality of zinc for rats was shown 2. However, this small amount is essential to the general human wellbeing. Elements of human nutrition summary minerals are one of the nutrient groups vital to the human body.
The physiological, biochemical, and molecular roles of. The minerals, calcium ca, iron fe, copper cu, magnesium mg, manganese mn, and zinc zn are known to be necessary for proper function and growth of the many systems in the human body. Six major nutrients to function, the human body must have nutrients. Severe zinc deficiency depresses immune function, and even mild to moderate degrees of zinc deficiency can impair macrophage and neutrophil functions, natural killer cell activity, and complement activity. Pdf a potential medicinal importance of zinc in human health and. Vitamin and mineral requirements in human nutrition vi 5. The zinc present in the pancreas may aid in the storage of insulin. The human body contains 23 g of zinc, mostly intracellular. Zinc is a mineral that helps the body s immune system by stimulating enzymes that help the body break down food.
Actually everything in the body is in a constant state of movement and change. It plays a role in cell division, cell growth, wound healing, and. Zinc is found in the air, soil, and water and is present in all foods. Zinc is an essential trace element in the human body, where it is found in high concentration in the red blood cells as an essential part of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which promotes many reactions relating to carbon dioxide metabolism.
A normal nonvegetarian diet furnishing sufficient protein will also have enough zinc. Only a small intake of zinc is necessary to reap the benefits. Zinc is present in all organs, tissues, fluids, and secretions in the body, but the majority of zinc 83% is present in skeletal muscle and bone. Each of the vitamins and minerals known today has specific functions in the body, which makes them unique and irreplaceable. The human body has an elaborate system for managing and. Only a small amount occurs in the plasma and is predominantly bound to albumin. Benefits, deficiency, food sources and side effects. What function in the human body is iron most commonly associated with. It is directly or indirectly involved in the major metabolic pathways concerned with. Amino acids, peptides, iodoquinol, increases zinc absorption.
1001 1354 484 782 197 67 1123 833 242 829 997 1183 1533 718 1149 1452 18 175 771 814 966 434 313 833 1185 19 42 555 915 20 754