Zinc in humans

Evenson, M. A. and Anderson, C. T., Jr. Ultramlcro Analysis for Copper, Cadmium and Zinc In Human Liver Tissue by Use of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry and the Heated Graphite Tube Atomizer". Clin. Chem. (1975), 2, 537-543. 

Mills, C. F. Zinc in Human Biology 1989, Springer-Verlag New York. 

R.J. Carrico and H.F. Deutsch, Presence of zinc in human cytocuprein and some properties of the apoprotein. J. Biol. Chem. 245, 723-727 (1970). 

AOAC Method 986.15 Arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium, and zinc in human and pet foods (1988)... 

A deficienqf of zinc in humans will retard growth, both physically and mentally, and contribute to anemia. It is present in many foods, particularly proteins (meat). A balanced diet provides an adequate amount of zinc. Not more than 50 milligrams per day of dietary zinc supplement should be taken, given that high levels of zinc in the body are toxic. Human bodies contain about two grams of zinc. A deficiency of zinc can cause a lack of taste and can delay growth as well as cause retardation in children. 

Prasad, A. S. 1979. Zinc in Human Nutrition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. 

Zinc was confirmed as essential for humans in 1936 and deficiency symptoms were reported in l%l. The size of ihe human fetus is correlated with zinc concentration in the amnintic fluid and habitual low zinc intake in the pregnant female is thought to he related (o several congenital anomalies in humans. Low zinc intakes result in hypogonadism, dwarfism. mental retardation, low serum and red blood cell zinc in humans and animals, and retarded growth and teratogenic effects on the nervous system in rats. 

Mills, C.F. Zinc in Human Biology, Springer-Veriag, Inc., New York, NY, 1989, Milne, D.B., et al. Dietaiy Intakes of Copper, Zinc, and Manganese by Militaty Personnel, Fed. Proc., 37, 891 (Abstract) (1978). 

Solomon NW, Marchini JS, Duarte-Favaro RM, et al. 1983. Studies on the bioavailability of zinc in humans Intestinal interaction of tin and zinc. Am J Clin Nutr 37 566-571. 

J. Amaud, A. Favier, J. Alary, Determination of zinc in human milk by eletrothermal atomica absorption spectrometry, J. Anal. Atom. Spectrom., 6 (1991), 647-652. 

P. Bratter, V. E. Negretti de Bratter, S. Recknagel, R. Brunetto, Maternal selenium status influences the concentration and binding pattern of zinc in human milk, J. Trace Elem. Med Biol, 11 (1997), 203-209. 

Although the role of zinc in human subjects has been now defined and its deficiency recognized in several clinical conditions, these examples are not representative of a pure zinc deficient state in man. It was, therefore, considered desirable to develop a human model which would allow a study of the effects of a mild zinc deficient state in man. Recently such a model has been established successfully in human volunteers with the use of a semi-purified diet based on texturized soy protein. 

Assessment of the Bioavailability of Dietary Zinc in Humans Using the Stable Isotopes Zn and Zn... 

Figure 3. This kinetic model for zinc in humans was based on averaged data obtained following oral and i.v. administration of Zn to 17 patients with abnormalities of taste and smell. The compartmental model used all kinetic data from Zn activity in plasma, red blood cells, urine, liver, and thigh as well as stable zinc parameters, including dietary intake, serum, and urinary concentration. The SAAM27 computer program was used to obtain the simplest set of mathematical relationships that would satisfy the data characteristics for each measurement time in the study and remain consistent with accepted concepts of zinc metabolism. Although the short physical half-life of Zn limited the data collection period, this model allowed for analysis of the rapid phases of zinc metabolism (about 10% of total body zinc) and derivation of a number of fundamental steady state...

Prasad, A.S. "Zinc in Human Nutrition" CRC Press Boca Raton, Florida, 1979 pp 1-30. 

Little Information Is available In man on the effect of either calcium or of phosphorus on zinc metabolism and specifically little Is known on the effect of these minerals on the Intestinal absorption of zinc In humans. In a study carried out by... 

Evidence for a similar membrane carrier for zinc in humans has been suggested from studies of zinc uptake in acrodermatitis enteropathica. In 1979, using mucosal samples obtained from acrodermatitis patients, Atherton e reported that, at lower lumenal zinc concentrations, brush border zinc uptake was inhibited in these patients, an effect overcome at higher zinc concentrations (48). As a result of these studies, they suggested the possibility of a membrane associated carrier for zinc in the brush border membrane. In the acrodermatitis enteropathica patients, this carrier could be altered or absent. Their hypothesis is supported by findings in rats by both Davies (38) and by this laboratory (43). 

ALTHOUGH ZINC WAS KNOWN as a required mineral nutrient for the diets of animals, zinc deficiency in humans diets was not recognized until the early 1960s. Individuals consuming an amount of dietary zinc exceeding the usual designated requirement still may show signs of nutritional zinc deficiency. Thus, the adequacy of zinc in humans diets must be evaluated based on the bioavailability of dietary zinc. 

C. F. Mills, ed., Zinc in Human Biology, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1989 A. S. Prasad, Biochemistry of Zinc, Plenum, New York, 1993 B. L. Vallee and D. S. Auld, Biochemistry 1990,29,5647 I. Bertini et al., Bioinorganic Chemistry, University Science Books, Mill Valley, CA, 1994. 

Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International, 17th edn. Rev 1, AOAC International, Gaithersburg, MD, USA, Official Method 986.15. Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Selenium, and Zinc in Human and Pet Foods - Multielement Method (2002)... 

Cernikova, M., Konrad, B. Microestimation of zinc in human blood serum. Biochem. Bio-phys. Acta 71, 190 (1963)... 

Food and Nutrition Board, "Zinc in Human Nutrition, National Academy... 

During the past decade or so, rapid advances have been made with respect to the role of zinc in human metabolism. In this review, some of the important aspects of zinc as it relates to human metabolism will be presented. 

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