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Updated: May 31, 2026

Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells

Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells

Published on: May 16, 2019

Zinc: an essential but elusive nutrient.

¹Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA 94609, USA. jking@chori.org

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

|July 1, 2011

Summary

Zinc is vital for metabolism, but its depletion signs are unclear. New biomarkers are needed to distinguish poor zinc nutrition from metabolic zinc redistribution.

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Human Nutrition

Background:

Zinc is essential for numerous metabolic processes, classified as a Type 2 nutrient due to its broad role.
Physiological signs of zinc depletion are nonspecific, complicating the identification of reliable biomarkers for zinc nutrition status.
Unlike Type 1 nutrients with specific functions, zinc's widespread involvement makes assessing deficiency challenging.

Framework:

Zinc homeostasis is maintained by immediate reduction of endogenous losses and mobilization from small body pools during insufficient intake.
These small zinc pools include intracellular reserves bound to metallothionein or stored within organelles, as well as plasma zinc.
Plasma zinc levels are sensitive to both nutritional status and metabolic redistribution.

Implementation:

Severe zinc deficiency rapidly decreases plasma zinc concentrations, while marginal depletion causes moderate declines.

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Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells

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Conditions like infection, trauma, stress, and steroid use trigger metabolic redistribution of zinc from plasma to tissues.

This redistribution confounds the interpretation of low plasma zinc, mimicking nutritional deficiency.

Implications:

Accurate assessment of zinc status requires distinguishing between nutritional deficiency and metabolic redistribution.
Development of biomarkers for metabolic zinc redistribution is crucial for correct diagnosis.
Potential biomarkers include metallothionein levels and cellular zinc transporter activity.