Beneficial Role of Zinc in Metabolic Syndrome: Understanding the Underlying Pathophysiological Mechanisms

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex disorder that comprises metabolic abnormalities such as central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Eventually, MetS leads to type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and increases the risk of other cardiovascular diseases. Patients with MetS are approximately five times more prone to develop T2DM. The increase in global prevalence of MetS is a major cause of concern. The microelement zinc is an essential trace element that plays a pivotal role in numerous biological processes occurring in the body. We carried out a thorough search of published studies in Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. Zinc plays an important role in the functioning of the immune system, wound healing, protein synthesis, metabolism, inflammation, and different oxidative stress pathways. It is also vital for insulin homeostasis and signaling. The potential role of zinc in managing insulin resistance may be a key component in the treatment of MetS. Zinc acts via various signaling pathways, such as AMPK and mTOR, and influences lipid and glucose metabolism. The regulation of zinc metabolism at the cellular level is important for various biological processes, and disruption in zinc homeostasis results in the development of many diseases. The present review aims to discuss the role of zinc in MetS. It is concluded that zinc level modulation may be a key point in the prevention and treatment of MetS.