Introduction

Zinc (Zn) is one of the most essential trace element in the body and is ubiquitous. It is very essential for the progress and advancement of microorganism, animals and plants. In adults, the average amount of the zinc is about 1.4-2.3g. It is secreted in all tissues of the body, and it secretes with a high proportion in the muscles and bones with 85% of the whole body, in skin and liver, it is approximately 11% and higher concentration from other remaining secretes in the prostate and various parts of the eye. The minimum need for zinc in humans for their health, well-being and satisfactory growth, differs according to the nutrition taken, climatic situations, stress presence caused by the distress, infections and parasitic infestations.

Zinc and Immunity

Zinc plays a crucial part in the sustainance of immune functions like as humoral and cellular immunity and zinc deficit. Zinc may affect the aspects of immune systems and crucial for phagocytosis, cell-mediated immune systems also for the utility of natural killer cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. The growth of B and T cells may be harmfully influenced by the deficit of zinc and it may potentiate the apoptosis. It has been observed that the decrease in an absolute number of splenocytes, thymic atrophy, and decreased responses to both T-cell dependent (TD) and T cell independent (T1) antigens in young adult zinc-deficient mice. Animals establish a serious weakening in their capability to produce a cytotoxic T killer response to the tumor challenge and preserved on a zinc-deficit diet for as slight as 2 weeks.

Zinc and Its Health Benefits

Zinc deficiency causes reduce in the flowing luteinizing hormone and testosterone absorptions, modifies sex steroid hormone receptor levels along with the alterations in the hepatic steroid metabolism hence causing male reproductive dysfunction. For maintaining normal serum testosterone, Zn is very essential and the pituitary gland is prevented from secreting luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormone by the inadequate level of Zn. It also prevents the aromatase enzyme alters testosterone into extra estrogen. Augmented threat of heart disease, obesity and weight gain are caused by the higher estrogen activity. Zinc also helps to produce healthier sperm with increase sperm count and motility along with the other impacts on hormone levels. Zn deficiency leads to the enlargement of the prostate gland due to the infection.

1. Zinc as an antioxidant

Cytosolic Zinc/Cu superoxide dismutase stabilizes by the Zn which starts catalysis of superoxide elimination by feature of zinc –histidyl-Cu triad, which acts as a proton presenter while on the oxidation cycle. The NADPH oxidases which catalyze the making of superoxide O2- from O2 and Cytotoxic cytokines TNF- α, IL-1β and IL-8 which produce free radicals are also repressed by the zinc element. Whereas, the generation of cysteine-rich metallothionein which is a brilliant scavenger of hydroxyl (OH-) radical induces by the zinc element.