Zinc and the Liver: An Active Interaction

Abstract

Zinc is an essential trace element, exerting important antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects. It affects growth and development and participates in processes such as aging and cancer induction. The liver is important for the regulation of zinc homeostasis, while zinc is necessary for proper liver function. Decreased zinc levels have been implicated in both acute and chronic liver disease states, and zinc deficiency has been implicated in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. Zinc supplementation offers protection in experimental animal models of acute and chronic liver injury, but these hepatoprotective properties have not been fully elucidated. In the present review, data on zinc homeostasis, its implication in the pathogenesis of liver diseases, and its effect on acute and chronic liver diseases are presented. It is concluded that zinc could protect against liver diseases, although up to now the underlying pathophysiology of zinc and liver interactions have not been defined.

Zinc supplementation attenuates ethanol- and acetaldehyde-induced liver stellate cell activation by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and by influencing intracellular signaling

“…Zinc, which was detected to inhibit MMP-2 production seems to be antifibrotic in its action. However, the data concerning protective effect of zinc Page 24 of 57 A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 24 supplementation are contradictory because in some experiments zinc administration in already cirrhotic animals reduced lipid peroxidation but did not affect liver collagen content [70].…”

Baixas concentrações plasmáticas de zinco em pacientes pediátricos com cirrose

“…9 This study found a significant plasma zinc deficiency (43%) in pediatric patients with liver cirrhosis when compared with normal control subjects in the same age group. The results of this study are compatible with those reported by Chin et al, 19 who evaluated the nutritional status of 27 children awaiting liver transplantation and found hypozincemia in 42% of the patients.…”

“…A study with adult patients with cirrhosis found an association between zinc deficiency and the increase in the severity of cirrhosis, 9,20 but another study did not. 21 Hambidge et al, 22 A significant correlation between zinc and albumin was found in our study and by other authors who studied patients with liver disease and also cystic fibrosis.…”

“…9 Some alterations of patients with cirrhosis may be associated with zinc deficiency: alopecia, wound healing disorders, lack of appetite, hypogeusia, gonadal growth retardation, 10 and it is also associated with hepatic encephalopathy. 11,12 A study with adult patients with decompensated cirrhosis found that these patients have plasma zinc concentrations significantly lower than patients with compensated disease, and that zinc concentrations are negatively associated with fasting ammonia concentrations.…”

Low plasma zinc concentrations in pediatric patients with cirrhosis

“…Entre as possíveis causas estão: a anorexia e a ingestão reduzida de proteínas animais, o aumento de citocinas ou hormônios que podem afetar o metabolismo do zinco, o aumento de perda renal de zinco e também devido à hipertensão portal, que é responsável pela má absorção dos nutrientes 9 .…”