Zinc, Its Functions and Role in the Immune System

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is the essential mineral for the organism. It is a biological trace element that needs to be taken every day for optimal health. Despite the vital necessity of Zn, the body has no warehouse that can be used to maintain metal levels for a long time. Zinc is absorbed in the intestine by specific zinc-bearing proteins and distributed in the human body. Free zinc is rare in serum because albumin is highly attached on proteins such as α2macroglobulin and transferrin. During zinc deficiency, while polymorpho nuclear cells chemotaxis and phagocytosis decreased, zinc supplementation had the opposite effect. Pathogens are destroyed by the activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases which have been shown to be inhibited by both zinc deficiency and excess after phagocytosis.