Effect of oral zinc supplementation on metallothionein and superoxide dismutase concentrations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Oxygen-derived free radicals may contribute to intestinal tissue damage in inflammatory bowel disease. The concentrations of metallothionein and superoxide dismutase, two copper and zinc containing proteins involved in the scavenging of free radicals; were previously found to be decreased in the intestinal mucosa of patients with this disorder. The plasma zinc concentration is often decreased also in these patients. Since zinc is reported to be an efficient inducer of metallothionein synthesis, and probably of superoxide dismutase, we evaluated the effect of oral zinc supplementation on metallothionein and superoxide dismutase levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Fourteen patients with inactive to moderately active inflammatory bowel disease received oral zinc supplementation (300 mg zinc aspartate, equal to 60 mg elemental zinc per day) for 4 weeks in a placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over trial. The plasma zinc concentration of these patients was low at the start of the study (12.2 +/- 1.7 mumol/L, P < 0.05), when compared to that of 22 healthy controls (13.6 +/- 2.3 mumol/L), but increased (P < 0.05) towards the levels of controls during the supplementation period (13.3 +/- 2.5 mumol/L). The concentrations of metallothionein and superoxide dismutase in plasma and in erythrocytes did not change in relation to the supplementation. The metallothionein concentration in both inflamed and non-inflamed intestinal mucosa was slightly higher after zinc supplementation but the superoxide dismutase concentration in the tissue was not altered. The histological inflammation score of intestinal biopsies, plasma albumin levels, and the disease activity index of the patients did not change during the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiac Metallothionein Induction Plays the Major Role in the Prevention of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Zinc Supplementation

“…30 -33 However, evidence that MT induction by Zn supplementation plays a major role in protection against nondiabetic injuries has been demonstrated. [17][18][19][20]28 We have also shown that Zn administration caused a marked MT synthesis in rabbit lymphocytes and in cultured human neuronal cells that provided a significant resistance to radiation-induced DNA damage and cell death. [37][38][39] In the present study, supplementation with Zn for 3 months provided a significant protective action on diabetic cardiomyopathy along with the significant induction of MT.…”

“…17,18 In addition, that MT upregulation in response to Zn supplementation prevents various pathogeneses has been documented in humans. 19,20 The present study therefore was undertaken to investigate the protective effects of Zn supplementation, with cardiac MT induction, on diabetic cardiomyopathy as a possible pharmaceutical approach to prevention of diabetic cardiovascular complications.…”

Increased expression of metallothionein in inflammatory bowel disease

“…Therefore it would be of interest whether local or systemic stimulation of MT-synthesis by zinc application would be clinical useful to decrease the damaging inflammatory process in CD and UC. Mulder et al [25] couldn´t find any effect on inflammation score and disease activity index of IBD-patients after 4 weeks therapy with oral zinc. However the study group was small and pre-treatment zinc concentrations were almost comparable to the control group.…”

Oxidative Stress and Dietary Interventions in Autism: Exploring the Role of Zinc, Antioxidant Enzymes and Other Micronutrients in the Neurobiology of Autism

“…All these physiological functions occur through the action of proteins involved in the regulation of zinc homeostasis such as metallothioneins which bind zinc with high affinity but, at the same time, release free zinc ions in response to oxidative/nitrosative stress that modulates the expression of zinc-dependent genes, activates antioxidant enzymes and has impact on immune response [21]. Zinc may induce the synthesis of metallothionein that act as a scavengers of metals and free radicals [22,23]. The release of zinc from metallothioneins represents an intracellular response to stress.…”