Zinc and Oxidative Stress: Current Mechanisms
Open accessAbstract
Oxidative stress is a metabolic dysfunction that favors the oxidation of biomolecules, contributing to the oxidative damage of cells and tissues. This consequently contributes to the development of several chronic diseases. In particular, zinc is one of the most relevant minerals to human health, because of its antioxidant properties. This review aims to provide updated information about the mechanisms involved in the protective role of zinc against oxidative stress. Zinc acts as a co-factor for important enzymes involved in the proper functioning of the antioxidant defense system. In addition, zinc protects cells against oxidative damage, acts in the stabilization of membranes and inhibits the enzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH-Oxidase). Zinc also induces the synthesis of metallothioneins, which are proteins effective in reducing hydroxyl radicals and sequestering reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in stressful situations, such as in type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer. Literature provides strong evidence for the role of zinc in the protection against oxidative stress in several diseases.
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Zinc deficiency causes destabilization of membrane structure and increases oxidative stress.
“In this respect, evidence showed that Zn deficiency causes destabilization of membrane structure and augments OS [424,425,426,427,428].”
From The Role of Antioxidants in the Interplay between Oxidative Stress and Senescence (2022) · cites this paper as [426]
In vitro, zinc deficiency is associated with increased ROS production, oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids, membrane destabilization, and dysregulation of metallothionein.
“In vitro studies have shown that Zn deficiency is associated with an increased production of ROS, oxidative damage to DNA, proteins and lipids, destabilization of membrane structure, dysregulation of Zn-binding protein metallothionein [426,429].”
From The Role of Antioxidants in the Interplay between Oxidative Stress and Senescence (2022) · cites this paper as [426]
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- Authors
- Marreiro, D., Cruz, K., Morais, J., Beserra, J., Severo, J., & De Oliveira, A.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal do Piauí (BR)
- Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Piauí, Campus Minister Petrônio Portela, Teresina 64049-550, Brazil
- Corresponding author
- Marreiro, Dilina
- Venue
- Antioxidants
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2017-03-29
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 24
- ISSN
- 2076-3921 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5488004
- OpenAlex
- W2598259733
- Cited by
- 679
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 88 · 2025: 107 · 2024: 114 · 2023: 87 · 2022: 81 · 2021: 80 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 7
- FWCI
- 3.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Antioxidants (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Trace Elements in Health
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Keywords
- zinc, oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, NADPH oxidase inhibition, metallothionein, reactive oxygen species, hydroxyl radicals, membrane stabilization, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer
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