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mrsD · 11-26-2006, 08:23 AM

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I have been looking around for other zinc data and found this:
Zinc improves diabetic neuropathy:

Quote:

Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull. 2005 Aug;31(2):62-7. Links
Diabetic neuropathy and zinc therapy.

* Hayee MA,
* Mohammad QD,
* Haque A.

Deptt. of Neuromedicine, SSMC, Dhaka.

This was a double blind study conducted on 60 subjects; 20 age and sex matched healthy controls (Group-I), 20 patients of diabetes mellitus with neuropathy who received placebo for 6 weeks (Group-IIA); and 20 patients of diabetes mellitus with neuropathy who were given oral 660 mg zinc sulphate for 6 weeks (Group-IIB). Serum zinc level, fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood sugar 2 hour after breakfast (2HABF) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were estimated on day 0 and after 6 weeks in all subjects. Serum zinc levels were significantly low (p<0.001) in group II-A and II-B as compared to healthy controls (group-I) at base line. After 6 weeks the changes in pre and post therapy values of FBS, 2HABF and MNCV (median and common peroneal nerve) were highly significant (p<0.001) for group II-B alone with insignificant change (p>0.05) in group II-A. Therefore, zinc therapy helps in achieving better glycemic control and improvement in peripheral neuropathy as assessed by MNCV.

PMID: 16967811 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

And here is a very new paper concerning low zinc levels and poor lung functions/asthma:

Quote:

Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2006 Nov 3; [Epub ahead of print]Click here to read Links
Anti-inflammatory effects of zinc and alterations in zinc transporter mRNA in mouse models of allergic inflammation.

* Lang CJ,
* Murgia C,
* Leong M,
* Tan LW,
* Perozzi G,
* Knight D,
* Ruffin RE,
* Zalewski PD.

Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

There is clinical evidence linking asthma with the trace element, zinc (Zn). Using a mouse model of allergic inflammation, we have previously shown that labile Zn decreases in inflamed airway epithelium. Moreover, mild nutritional Zn deficiency worsens lung function. Recently, a number of proteins belonging to ZIP and ZnT families have been identified that bind Zn and regulate Zn homeostasis. Mice were sensitized, and subsequently aerochallenged, with ovalbumin to induce acute and chronic airway inflammation. Mice received 0, 54 or 100microg of Zn intraperitoneally. Tissues were analysed for Zn content and histopathology. Inflammatory cells were counted in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL). Cytokine and Zn transporter mRNA levels were determined by cDNA gene array and/or real-time PCR. Zn supplementation decreased BAL eosinophils by 40 and 80%, and lymphocytes by 55 and 66%, in the acute and chronic models, respectively. Alterations in Zn transporter expression were observed during acute inflammation, including increases in ZIP1 and ZIP14 and decreases in ZIP4 and ZnT4. Zn supplementation normalized ZIP1 and ZIP14, but did not affect mRNA levels of cytokines or their receptors. Our results indicate that inflammation-induced alterations in Zn transporter gene expression are directed towards increasing Zn uptake. Increases in Zn uptake may be needed to counteract the local loss of Zn in the airway and to meet an increased demand for Zn-dependent proteins. The reduction of inflammatory cells by Zn in the airways provides support for Zn supplementation trials in human asthmatics. Key words: asthma, zinc, zinc transporter, eosinophilia, airway inflammation.

PMID: 17085522 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Here is a new paper suggesting use of zinc monomethionine:

Quote:

Biofactors. 2006;27(1-4):231-44.Click here to read Links
Bioavailability, antioxidant and immune-enhancing properties of zinc methionine.

* Chien XX,
* Zafra-Stone S,
* Bagchi M,
* Bagchi D.

InterHealth Research Center, Benicia, CA, USA.

Although a large number of transition metals and cations remarkably induce oxidative deterioration of biological macromolecules including lipids, proteins and DNA, the trace element zinc acts as a novel dietary supplement and an essential micronutrient, and serves a wide range of biological functions in human and animal health. Zinc promotes antioxidant and immune functions, stabilizes and maintains the structural integrity of biological membranes, and plays a pivotal role in skin and connective tissue metabolism and repair. Zinc is an integral constituent of a large number of enzymes including antioxidant enzymes, and hormones including glucagon, insulin, growth hormone, and sex hormones. High concentrations of zinc are found in the prostate gland and choroids of the eye. Zinc deficiency leads to biochemical abnormalities including the impairments of growth, dermal, gastrointestinal, neurologic and immunologic systems. Given its superior bioavailability, antioxidant and immune-enhancing properties, zinc methionine may serve as a novel dietary supplement to promote health benefits in humans and animals.

PMID: 17012778 [PubMed - in process]

The incidence of low zinc and inflammation in the elderly:

Quote:

Biogerontology. 2006 Oct;7(5-6):315-27.Click here to read Links
Inflammation, genes and zinc in ageing and age-related diseases.

* Vasto S,
* Mocchegiani E,
* Candore G,
* Listi F,
* Colonna-Romano G,
* Lio D,
* Malavolta M,
* Giacconi R,
* Cipriano C,
* Caruso C.

Department of Pathobiology and Biomedical Methodology, Palermo University, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo , Italy, marcoc@unipa.it.

Lifelong antigenic burden determines a condition of chronic inflammation, with increased lymphocyte activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. A large number of studies have documented changes in Zn metabolism in experimental animal models of acute and chronic inflammation and in human chronic inflammatory diseases. In particular, modification of zinc plasma concentration as well as intracellular disturbance of antioxidant intracellular pathways have been found associated to age-related inflammatory diseases, like atherosclerosis. Zinc deficiency is extremely diffused in aged people that are educated to avoid meat and other high Zn-content foods due to fear of cholesterol. Rather, they increase consumption of refined wheat products that lack of Zn, magnesium and other critical nutrients in consequence of refining process. On the other hand, plasma concentration of metallic ions like Zn is influenced by pro-inflammatory cytokines production. A major target of Zn may be NF-kB, a transcription factor critical for the expression of many pro-inflammatory cytokines whose production is finely regulated by extra- and intracellular activating and inhibiting factors interacting with regulatory elements on cytokine genes. Moreover, this factor is regulated by the expression of specific cellular genes involved in inflammation. So it is not surprising that Zn deficiency is constantly observed in aged patients affected by infectious diseases. On the other hand, cytokine genes are highly polymorphic and some of these polymorphisms have been found associated to age-related diseases as atherosclerosis. Therefore, Zn deficiency in individuals genetically predisposed to a dis-regulation of inflammation response, may play a crucial role, in causing adverse events and in reducing the probability of a successful aging.

PMID: 16972155 [PubMed - in process]

Here is another about zinc/elderly/immune functions:

Quote:

Biogerontology. 2006 Oct;7(5-6):421-8.Click here to read Links
Correlation between zinc status and immune function in the elderly.

* Haase H,
* Mocchegiani E,
* Rink L.

Institute of Immunology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany, LRink@ukaachen.de.

Zinc is essential for the immune system and elderly people have an increased probability for zinc deficiency, documented by a decline of serum or plasma zinc levels with age. Although most healthy elderly are not classified as clinically zinc deficient, even marginal zinc deprivation can affect immune function. Several striking similarities in the immunological changes during aging and zinc deficiency, including a reduction in the activity of the thymus and thymic hormones, a shift of the T helper cell balance towards TH2, decreased response to vaccination, and impaired functions of innae immune cells indicate that a wide prevalence of marginal zinc deficiency in elderly people may contribute to immunosenescence. Studies with oral zinc supplementation show the potential to improve the immune response of elderly people by restoration of the zinc levels, showing that balancing the zinc status may be a way to healthy aging. This review summarizes the current literature about zinc supplementation in the elderly and thereby defines the rationale for the immunological part of the ZINCAGE project.

PMID: 16953331 [PubMed - in process]