What is the role of zinc in the human body?

Among metals, ions of which are part of organic compounds, an important place belongs to zinc. Biochemists have introduced it into a group of microelements, whose content in the cell does not exceed 0.0001%. Zinc cations can be found both in animals and in plant organisms, where it is a part of biologically active substances, for example, such as hormones and enzymes, nucleotides, lipids and esters. The role of zinc in the human body is diverse: it is necessary for proper metabolism, the normal course of immune processes, the implementation of reproductive function. In this article, we will take a closer look at the properties of compounds containing a trace element of zinc, and also give examples illustrating its importance in maintaining the homeostasis of the human body.

Zinc atom as complexing agent

Most of the enzymes that carry out the reactions of cellular metabolism are complex substances and contain ions of iron, magnesium, copper, zinc. In biochemistry they are called organometallic compounds. The role of zinc in the human body lies in the fact that it, being a central ion, is a part of the molecules of hormones, enzymes and other biologically active substances, for example, insulin, lactate dehydrogenase, an anti-proteinase protein of blood. Let's consider their properties further.

Regulation of glycolysis

One of the stages of energy metabolism in the cell is glycolysis - anoxic cleavage of glucose, the main energy substance of the cell. It is carried out in the presence of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase and leads to the conversion of carbohydrate to lactic acid. Excessive lactate content poisons the cytoplasm of the cell, a zinc-containing enzyme is synthesized to cleave this substance to harmless pyruvic acid in the cytosol. Its action leads to the neutralization of lactic acid in the cells of the heart muscle, nephrons and myocytes, releasing the cytoplasm from the toxin, which confirms the important role of zinc in the human body. The lactate dehydrogenase content in the blood is used in the diagnosis of diseases accompanied by a pathological increase in metabolism, in particular, the breakdown of glucose, for example, liver, stomach, lung, inflammatory processes of the kidney and degenerative changes in muscles.

The role of zinc in the development of the immune system

Lymph nodes, thymus gland, red bone marrow, palatine tonsils produce cells that have a pronounced protective effect against bacteria, viruses, foreign proteins and toxins. The level of development of the immune system decisively influences the state of human health and largely depends on the timely formation of protective elements: antibodies, interferons, phagocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages. As established biochemical studies, all of the above substances and cells that fight the infectious beginning, are formed with the direct participation of a trace element. The important role of zinc in the human body lies in the fact that it participates in the formation of T-lymphocytes and killer cells. They carry the main burden in neutralizing pathogenic bacteria and viruses that cause such serious diseases as tuberculosis, pneumonia, immunodeficiency syndrome, etc. In addition, zinc ions activate cellular genes responsible for timely response to stress factors of the environment and increase resistance Organism to them. Also, thymusin, timopoietin and thymulin become hormones in the presence of complex zinc particles, which contributes to the enhancement of immune processes.

Mechanism of microelement effect on viral infection

To broaden the idea of the role of zinc in the human body, let us consider its functions in blocking the replication of nucleic acids and the synthesis of protein molecules of viruses. The results of microbiological studies confirmed the fact of directed antiviral effect of zinc ions on pathogens of such diseases as herpes, encephalitis, influenza. In particular, the microelement contributes to the release into the blood of various types of interferons, which helps in the early stages of the disease to stop the rapid growth of viral particles. In particular, this concerns the processes of translation of pathogen proteins, which turn out to be blocked. Thus, the biological role of zinc in the human body lies in its pronounced antiviral effect, which ensures the ability of cells to resist pathogenic agents.

How does zinc regulate the reproductive function of a person?

The ability to reproduce and continue the genus is the most important property of all species of living organisms. For the female body, zinc is needed during pregnancy, and its deficiency is manifested in symptoms of premenstrual syndrome: migraine, the appearance of edema and painful spasms. The microelement is the most significant for the correct development of the male reproductive system and the fertility of gamete-spermatozoa. Muscular type of body formation, normal functioning of the sexual glands - testicles and prostate, viability of sperm - this is the role of zinc in the body of a man. Zinc in the form of complexing agent is a part of the most important sex hormone - testosterone, responsible for the whole process of spermatogenesis, reproductive properties and libido of men.

Growth of the body and its dependence on organic compounds of zinc

It is known that the anterior pituitary gland produces hormone somatotropin, on which the physiological processes of bone tissue growth depend. Along with the growth hormone in the hypothalamus, there is a synthesis of insulin-like molecules, which are polypeptides and called somatomedines. They contain zinc atoms and, together with somatotropin enter the blood, affecting the processes of osteogenesis. Excessive number of growth factors leads to such diseases as gigantism and acromegaly (disproportionately long limbs), and the lack of hormones causes dwarfism. All the above facts confirm the crucial role of zinc in the child's body, the growth processes of which are controlled by zinc-containing hormones.

Functions of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase

In the processes of catabolism in cells and intercellular fluid, an excessive amount of degradation products accumulates: acetic aldehyde, esters, carbon dioxide. To avoid intoxication, the enzyme group of the body includes carbonic anhydrase. It contains a complex zinc ion and enhances the interaction of harmful substances with water. As a result of hydration, toxins are neutralized to harmless to the cell compounds, for example, carbonic acid. The enzyme, along with hemoglobin, is a part of the erythrocytes of all mammals, not just humans. Carboangiandraza, containing zinc and found in red blood cells, activates the decomposition of toxic acidic salts of carbonate acid, which accumulate in the blood due to internal breathing, to water and carbon dioxide. This fact proves the extremely important role of zinc in the vital activity of living organisms.

Zinc-containing enzyme - insulin

The pancreas is one of the main organs of the digestive system, it produces a whole arsenal of vital enzymes and hormones, one of which is insulin. It contains two protein chains that can bind to zinc ions. In this condition, insulin acts on glucose, which is in the blood plasma. It reduces its excess, which appears after the intake of carbohydrates contained in bread, potatoes, confectionery. The hormone is produced by the islets of the Langerhans pancreas, and when it is insufficiently isolated, the person develops diabetes mellitus. The important role of zinc in the human body is also in the fact that insulin containing it also affects the exchange of proteins and lipids, leading to the deposition of fat in the omentum and subcutaneous fatty tissue.

What is dangerous zinc deficiency for human health?

Earlier we established the fact of the presence of a microelement in the form of the central atom of complex organic compounds, represented in molecules of different enzymes. A special place among them belongs to biologically active substances - carboxypeptidases, containing zinc ions. Enzymes are a part of pancreatic juice and are necessary for normal digestion of food in the duodenum and small intestine. They also participate in the synthesis of the most important hormones that control metabolism: vasopressin, oxytocin, insulin. The effect of zinc-containing carboxypeptidases on mechanisms of blood clotting, tissue repair, reproduction functions has been proved. Obviously, zinc deficiency affects well-being and has the following symptoms: a sharp decrease in immunity, susceptibility to depressive conditions, abnormalities in the digestive system, anomalies in the development of reproductive function. All this can lead to irreversible changes in the human body.

The importance of proper nutrition in the prevention of zinc deficiency

A distinctive feature of the microelement is that it is slowly absorbed by the digestive organs from products of vegetable and animal origin: beef, milk, peanuts, pumpkin and sesame seeds. Reduces the absorption of zinc by the fibers of the small intestine epithelium, the excessive content of coarse fiber, folic acid and copper, calcium and cadmium ions, which are zinc antagonists, in the chyme. The daily requirement of a microelement makes for children - from 3 to 7 mg, women - 8 mg, men - 11 mg. Briefly, the role of zinc in the human body can be characterized as follows: being in the pancreas, gonads, liver, lymphocytes and muscles, the microelement is vital for the proper course of metabolic reactions, the functioning of the digestive, endocrine and sexual systems of man.