Zinc – the protector of immunity
Why is zinc so important?
Table of Contents
- Zinc is the second most abundant microelement in the body after iron.
- It is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions, many of which are directly related to immune function.
- Zinc deficiency is much more common than we might think; not only in developing countries, but also in the elderly, vegetarians, vegans, heavy alcohol users, and people with bowel diseases.
What does zinc do for the immune system?
Zinc is an essential component for the synthesis of immune cells:
- T-lymphocytes – zinc participates in their production and maturation in the thymus
- Neutrophils – “first responder” cells that quickly fight infection
- Natural killer (NK) cells – are rapid defense cells against viruses and tumor cells
Signaling and antioxidant role
Signaling ion – Zinc is a signaling ion that connects immune cells together and ensures their response to a foreign agent.
Antioxidant function: Superoxide dismutase is an antioxidant enzyme that contains zinc as part of its structure. It scavenges free radicals in the body and controls inflammation.
Zinc also plays a role in gene regulation — it ensures the structure and function of transcription factors, which are essential for immunity, growth, and health.
What does zinc deficiency mean?
Zinc deficiency is a condition in which the amount of zinc in the body is significantly reduced. Since the body cannot produce microelements, including zinc, it is necessary to obtain it through food or supplements.
Symptoms
- Diarrhea – especially in infants
- Frequent infections
- Slow growth – in children and adolescents
- hair loss
- Nail changes (brittleness, peeling)
- Lack of energy, irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of taste and smell
- Rash on the skin
- Prolong wound healing
- and others;
Causes of shortage
- Nutritional factors – lack of zinc in the diet
- Vegetarian/vegan diet
- Medical conditions – intestinal diseases, chronic diarrhea, celiac disease, Crohn's disease
- Frequent alcohol consumption – reduces zinc absorption and increases its loss
- Medications and treatments – diuretics, hemodialysis, bariatric surgery
Conditions that cause zinc deficiency
- Alcoholism
- Mass burning
- Celiac disease
- Crohn's disease
- HIV
- Kidney diseases
- Liver diseases
- Pancreatic diseases
- Pregnancy
- წყლულოვანი კოლიტი
- Short bowel syndrome
- Sepsis
- Type 2 diabetes
- Acrodermatitis enteropathica – a rare genetic disease that disrupts zinc absorption and manifests as a skin rash.
Zinc is a structural and functional pillar of immunity. Its deficiency often develops silently, but the consequences are clearly visible in immune cells, thymus size, and frequency of infections. In high-risk groups (the elderly, vegetarians/vegans, people with intestinal diseases, heavy alcohol users), it is necessary to check for deficiency.
Diagnosis
The main diagnostic test for zinc deficiency is its determination in blood serum. For the correct interpretation of the results, sometimes the determination of serum albumin is used as an additional study - since zinc in serum is bound to albumin, a low level of albumin may indicate a false zinc deficiency. Depending on the clinical picture, it is sometimes important
source
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/zinc-deficiency
https://meonutrition.com/blogs/article/zinc-for-immune-system
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