Roles of zinc in the gut-liver axis

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Human Physiology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Zinc plays vital roles in over 3200 human proteins, acting as a catalyst, structural component, and regulator.
• Zinc functions as an ionic messenger, influencing cellular communication, metabolism, and gene expression.
• The gut and liver are central to zinc regulation and distribution, making them susceptible to disruptions in zinc homeostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the critical roles of zinc in maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and gut health.
• To elucidate the impact of zinc on the gut-liver axis and overall liver health.
• To highlight the significance of zinc in immune response, inflammation control, and tissue repair.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing existing research on zinc's functions.
• Analysis of zinc's role in cellular processes, metabolism, and gene regulation.
• Examination of the gut-liver axis and zinc's influence on intestinal and hepatic health.

Main Results:

• Zinc deficiency is prevalent (75%) in decompensated liver cirrhosis, contributing to a prooxidant and proinflammatory state.
• Zinc is essential for proliferation and differentiation of all cells, with intricate regulation by transporters and homeostatic proteins.
• Adequate zinc levels support immune responses, inflammation control, and tissue repair, while deficiency exacerbates inflammation.

Conclusions:

• Zinc deficiency requires clinical attention in liver disease, necessitating gut health assessment and zinc supplementation.
• Supplemental zinc, combined with other therapeutics, is crucial for restoring intestinal and hepatic functions in liver disease.
• Zinc's global significance in cellular health extends beyond its trace element classification, impacting all cells and physiological processes.