Zinc Deficiency Affects DNA Damage, Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Defenses, and DNA Repair in Rats 1–3
by Admin
Posted on 18-02-2025 12:45 PM
Approximately 12% of americans do not consume the estimated average requirement for zinc and could be at risk for marginal zinc deficiency. Zinc is an essential component of numerous proteins involved in the defense against oxidative stress and dna damage repair. Studies in vitro have shown that zinc depletion causes dna damage. We hypothesized that zinc deficiency in vivo causes dna damage through increases in oxidative stress and impairments in dna repair.
Sprague-dawley rats were fed zinc-adequate (za; 30 mg zn/kg) or severely zinc-deficient (zd; <1 mg zn/kg) diets or were pair-fed zinc-adequate diet to match the mean feed intake of zd rats for 3 wk.
Zinc Deficiency Alters DNA Damage Response Genes in Normal Human Prostate Epithelial Cells 1 , 2 , 3
Zinc is an essential trace element for human health and is a critical component of many proteins and transcription factors involved in dna damage response and repair. The prostate is known to accumulate high levels of zinc, but levels are markedly decreased with cancer development.
We hypothesized that zinc plays a critical role in maintaining dna integrity in the prostate and zinc deficiency would lead to increased dna damage and altered dna damage response mechanisms. To test this hypothesis, the goal of this study was to determine the effects of zinc deficiency on dna damage and dna repair mechanisms by examining changes in global gene expression and transcription factor binding abilities in normal prostate epithelial cells (prec).
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Severe zinc deficiency study.
Micro-nutrient deficiencies, such as zn, greatly contribute to a number of diseases and lead toward adverse functional disorders, such as blindness, cognitive losses, decreased iq level, stunting, premature mortalities during pregnancy, and increased exposure to infectious diseases during pregnancy. There are numerous reasons for the zn deficiency mainly insufficient zn absorption by the human body and consumption of low zn meals, presence of zn inhibitors, and excessive zn loss during diarrhea ( 6 ). Globally, it is estimated that two billion individuals are in danger of clinical illness due to zn deficiency. Current estimates have revealed that about 17.
Zinc is commonly used in hospitals as a treatment for burns, certain ulcers, and other skin injuries ( ). Because this mineral plays critical roles in collagen synthesis, immune function, and inflammatory response, it is necessary for proper healing. In fact, your skin holds a relatively high amount — about 5% — of your body’s zinc content ( ). While a zinc deficiency can slow wound healing, supplementing with zinc can speed recovery in people with wounds. For example, in a 12-week study in 60 people with diabetic foot ulcers , those treated with 50 mg of zinc per day experienced significant reductions in ulcer size compared to a placebo group (.
Immunity because zinc supports the growth and normal functioning of immune cells, even a mild or moderate deficiency can slow down the activity of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and macrophages that protect the body from viruses and bacteria. Zinc deficiency is a common health problem in children from low and middle-income countries that contributes to stunting of growth, diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria. The elderly who may have low zinc intakes from a poor appetite due to multiple diseases and medications are at risk for infections, such as pneumonia and skin ulcers, as reviewed in the next section. Adequate zinc is needed to create new cells, particularly collagen and fiber-like tissues, a necessary function in repairing damaged cells.
It is important to have an understanding of zinc absorption and dietary influences when thinking about the best way to address your zinc nutritional status. Marginal zinc deficiency and low zinc status have been recognized, as reported in zinc deficiency studies , in many groups of the population in not only less developed countries but industrialized ones as well. Whilst the cause in some cases may be inadequate dietary intake of zinc, inhibitors of zinc absorption also have an impact. Phytate, which is present in staple foods like cereals, corn and rice, has shown in some zinc studies and reports to have a strong negative effect on zinc absorption following consumption.
The bioavailability of dietary folate (vitamin b9) is increased by the action of a zinc-dependent enzyme. Accordingly, some studies found low zinc intake decreased folate absorption. It was also suggested that supplementation with folic acid — the synthetic form of folate — might impair zinc utilization in individuals with marginal zinc status (17 , 29). However, one study reported that supplementation with a relatively high dose of folic acid (800 µg/day) for 25 days did not alter zinc absorption or status in a group of students being fed a low-zinc diet (3. 5 mg/day) (30).
The importance of zinc for proper immune function is best observed in zinc-deficient individuals. Zinc deficiency has been known for 50 years [ 15 ] and is associated with skin abnormalities, hypogonadism, cognitive impairment, growth retardation, and imbalanced immune reactions which favor allergies and autoimmune diseases [ 3 , 5 ]. In the case of inherited malfunction of zinc homeostasis, as seen in acrodermatitis enteropathica, zinc deficiency can be lethal [ 17 ]. Zinc deficiency can be classified by severity and is divided into severe or marginal zinc deficiency, respectively. Severe zinc deficiency is often observed because of malfunction of zinc uptake in the intestine.