Zinc's Effect on Diabetes
Humans require zinc as a micronutrient (1). In India, metallic zinc was first created in the 1400s by burning the mineral calamine (ZnCO3) with wool. Andreas Sigismund Marggraf rediscovered zinc in 1746 when he heated calamine with charcoal. Aqueous zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) is electrolyzed to yield the majority of zinc that is produced today (2).
In biological chemistry Zinc is used as an electrophilic catalyst, which means that it balances out any negative charges that may arise during an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. Histidine side chains often dominate the catalytic zinc coordination polyhedron (5).
Although the way that zinc is absorbed depends on the substrate that contains it, it can be found in a variety of foods such as meat, fish, legumes, nuts, and other dietary sources (3), and the zinc found in pancreatic tissue, which is rich in Zinc.
Role of Zinc
Zinc plays a part in regulating how insulin functions, and stimulates the synthesis of growth hormone and its receptors, which is why it is an essential mediator in the binding of growth hormone to its receptor (4).
In addition, Zinc has an impact on a variety of thyroid hormone metabolism processes, including hormone synthesis, receptor activation, T4 to T3 conversion, and the production of carrier proteins. The important relationship between zinc and leptin is demonstrated by the fact that obese patients have low zinc levels and high leptin levels (4).
In laboratory human beings’ zinc status is evaluated by measuring the amount of zinc in their plasma, erythrocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and hair. Zinc in plasma can be easily measured, and many labs have the necessary equipment. If circumstances like infections, acute stress, myocardial infarction, and intravascular hemolysis are ruled out, then plasma zinc can be beneficial (A).
Zinc Pathophysiology
It is said a wide variety of ligands contribute to providing glycemic control and insulin-mimicking properties, which are responsible for regulating blood sugar levels (6).
When the pancreatic cells degranulate, the insulin they store as a hexamer with two zinc ions is released into the portal venous system (7). In cases of Zn, Se, and Cu deficiency, which may be a consequence of ingesting too many processed foods, diabetes appears to be more prevalent (8). In addition to zinc’s (Zn) significance for normal biological processes and healthy development, Zn has also been discovered to have insulin-mimicking and anti-diabetic characteristics. These insulin-like properties have been demonstrated to exist in isolated cells, tissues, and different animal models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes (9).
Diabetes and obesity are risk factors for a lack of zinc, but up until recently, the underlying molecular processes were unknown. The groundbreaking discovery, that the common polymorphism in the zinc transporter SLC30A8/ZnT8 may increase susceptibility to type 2 diabetes, provided new insights into the role of zinc in diabetes (10).
A lack of zinc may also make it more likely for someone to develop diabetes, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and coronary artery disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that zinc has favorable effects on insulin resistance, and glucose and lipid profiles, those signs are usually associated with diabetes or metabolic syndrome. A prospective study, for instance, found that American women who consume more zinc have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and additional research found that people with type 2 diabetes who take zinc supplements have higher levels of HDL lipoprotein and lower levels of triglycerides (TG) (11).
The number of patients with diabetes or pre-diabetic symptoms is increasing, Therefore numerous studies have been conducted to determine ways to lessen the effects of diabetes. One of the medicines that is most usually suggested by the studies is usage of zinc (Zn). The benefits of zinc for type 1 and type 2 diabetes have long been established. With a focus on the length of therapy and ideal zinc dose, this blog /article aims to provide comprehensive information regarding the effect of zinc on the different signaling pathways in multiple tissues impacted by diabetes (12).
Atypical Zn, Cu, and Fe metabolism can cause chronic disorders including diabetes and its complications. Compared to Cu and Zn deficiency, these pathogenic illnesses appear to be more prevalent in Cu and Fe excess. When Fe and Cu are overloaded, diabetes and its effects may be treated with drugs that chelate Fe and Cu (13).
Zinc has received a lot of interest, because of its utilization in the creation of efficient anti-diabetic medications, its role in the storage and manufacture of insulin, and its putative insulin-mimetic properties. Zinc (II) has been complexed as an adjuvant with several chemical ligands to produce anti-diabetic medications with improved and/or broader scope of pharmacological actions (14).
Zinc supplementation significantly reduces two-hour postprandial hyperglycemia (2hpp) and other glycemic markers (15, 16).
Conclusion
The abundant pancreatic tissue contains zinc, which helps to control how insulin works. Zn has also been found to have, insulin-mimicking, anti-diabetic, and glycemic control properties. zinc supplementation significantly reduced two-hour postprandial hyperglycemia, Lack of zinc is a risk factor for diabetes and obesity.
A person’s risk of developing diabetes, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and coronary artery disease may all increase if they don’t get enough zinc. Recent research has shown that zinc has beneficial benefits on insulin resistance.
Muhammad Waleed Abdulrahman
M.B.B.S Faculty Of Medicine, University of Duhok, Iraq
1. Maxfield L, Shukla S, Crane JS. Zinc Deficiency. 2023 Jun 28. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29630283.
2. https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele030.html#:~:text=Metallic%20zinc%20was%20first%20produced,zinc%20sulfate%20(ZnSO4).
3. Maxfield L, Shukla S, Crane JS. Zinc Deficiency. 2023 Jun 28. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29630283.
4. Baltaci AK, Mogulkoc R, Baltaci SB. Review: The role of zinc in the endocrine system. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2019 Jan;32(1):231-239. PMID: 30772815.
5. Christianson DW. Structural biology of zinc. Adv Protein Chem. 1991;42:281-355. doi: 10.1016/s0065-3233(08)60538-0. PMID: 1793007.
6. Chukwuma CI. Zinc(II) complexes in diabetes management: Plant-derived phenolics as understudied promising ligands. J Food Biochem. 2020 Nov;44(11):e13477. doi: 10.1111/jfbc.13477. Epub 2020 Sep 27. PMID: 32984986.
7. Jayawardena R, Ranasinghe P, Galappatthy P, Malkanthi R, Constantine G, Katulanda P. Effects of zinc supplementation on diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2012 Apr 19;4(1):13. doi: 10.1186/1758-5996-4-13. PMID: 22515411; PMCID: PMC3407731.
8. Bjørklund G, Dadar M, Pivina L, Doşa MD, Semenova Y, Aaseth J. The Role of Zinc and Copper in Insulin Resistance and Diabetes Mellitus. Curr Med Chem. 2020;27(39):6643-6657. doi: 10.2174/0929867326666190902122155. PMID: 31475889.
9. Vardatsikos G, Pandey NR, Srivastava AK. Insulino-mimetic and anti-diabetic effects of zinc. J Inorg Biochem. 2013 Mar;120:8-17. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2012.11.006. Epub 2012 Dec 3. PMID: 23266931.
10. Fukunaka A, Fujitani Y. Role of Zinc Homeostasis in the Pathogenesis of Diabetes and Obesity. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Feb 6;19(2):476. doi: 10.3390/ijms19020476. PMID: 29415457; PMCID: PMC5855698.
11. Kim J, Lee S. Effect of zinc supplementation on insulin resistance and metabolic risk factors in obese Korean women. Nutr Res Pract. 2012 Jun;6(3):221-5. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2012.6.3.221. Epub 2012 Jun 30. PMID: 22808346; PMCID: PMC3395787.
12. Asghari K, Shargh Z, Fatehfar S, Chodari L, Sameei P. The impact of zinc on the molecular signaling pathways in the diabetes disease. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2022 Jul;72:126985. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2022.126985. Epub 2022 Apr 11. PMID: 35429747.
13. Zheng Y, Li XK, Wang Y, Cai L. The role of zinc, copper, and iron in the pathogenesis of diabetes and diabetic complications: therapeutic effects by chelators. Hemoglobin. 2008;32(1-2):135-45. doi: 10.1080/03630260701727077. PMID: 18274991.
14. Chukwuma CI, Mashele SS, Eze KC, Matowane GR, Islam SM, Bonnet SL, Noreljaleel AEM, Ramorobi LM. A comprehensive review on zinc(II) complexes as anti-diabetic agents: The advances, scientific gaps and prospects. Pharmacol Res. 2020 May;155:104744. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104744. Epub 2020 Mar 7. PMID: 32156651.
15. Ghaedi K, Ghasempour D, Jowshan M, Zheng M, Ghobadi S, Jafari A. Effect of zinc supplementation in the management of type 2 diabetes: A grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation-assessed, dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2023 May 15:1-12. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2209802. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37183697.
16. Wang X, Wu W, Zheng W, Fang X, Chen L, Rink L, Min J, Wang F. Zinc supplementation improves glycemic control for diabetes prevention and management: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019 Jul 1;110(1):76-90. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz041. PMID: 31161192.