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Updated: May 17, 2025
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Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells
Published on: May 16, 2019
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Zinc in psychosis (Review).
Christos Theleritis1, Marina Demetriou1, Maria-Ioanna Stefanou2
1Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon University General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece.
Molecular Medicine Reports
|May 16, 2025
Summary
Zinc (Zn) may help schizophrenia (SCH) patients by addressing abnormal brain function. Supplementation, possibly with vitamins, could improve outcomes and mitigate developmental risks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Altered zinc homeostasis is linked to schizophrenia (SCH).
- Zinc dysregulation may contribute to glutamatergic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration in SCH.
- Imbalances in zinc are associated with autoimmune abnormalities relevant to psychosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of zinc dyshomeostasis on psychosis.
- To explore potential benefits of zinc supplementation for patients with schizophrenia.
- To summarize evidence on zinc's role in neuroprotection and immune modulation in psychosis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on zinc and schizophrenia.
- Analysis of research on zinc's biochemical and physiological effects.
- Examination of clinical and preclinical data regarding zinc supplementation.
Main Results:
- Zinc deficiency or excess can disrupt critical neurological pathways.
- Evidence suggests zinc supplementation may benefit some schizophrenia patients.
- Prenatal zinc may protect against maternal immune activation models of psychosis.
Conclusions:
- Zinc plays a crucial role in brain health and function.
- Targeting zinc homeostasis could be a therapeutic strategy for schizophrenia.
- Further research is warranted to optimize zinc supplementation protocols for psychosis.
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