Zinc: The Biology and Therapeutics of an Ion
Authors: Ananda S. Prasad
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1996)

Editorials15 July 1996Zinc: The Biology and Therapeutics of an IonAnanda S. Prasad, MD, PhDAnanda S. Prasad, MD, PhDWayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-125-2-199607150-00012 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Although the role of zinc in the growth of microorganisms, plants, and animals was well established many decades ago, its role in humans was first recognized only in 1963 [1]. Our studies from the Middle East showed, for the first time, that zinc deficiency occurs in humans [1]. In 1974, the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences [2] made a landmark decision to establish a recommended dietary allowance for zinc as an essential element for humans.The clinical manifestations of zinc deficiency in humans include growth retardation, male hypogonadism, skin changes, ...References1. Prasad AS, Miale A, Farid Z, Schulert A, Sandstead HH. Zinc metabolism in patients with the syndrome of iron deficiency anemia, hypogonadism, and dwarfism. J Lab Clin Med. 1963; 61:537-49. Google Scholar2. National Research Council. Committee on Dietary Allowances. Recommended Dietary Allowances. 8th ed. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences; 1974:99-101. Google Scholar3. Prasad AS. Discovery of human zinc deficiency and studies in an experimental human model. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991; 53:403-12. Google Scholar4. Prasad AS. Clinical spectrum of human zinc deficiency. In: Prasad AS, ed. Biochemistry of Zinc. New York: Plenum; 1993:219-58. Google Scholar5. Prasad AS. Zinc: an overview. Nutrition. 1995; 11:93-9. Google Scholar6. Prasad AS. Zinc deficiency in women, infants and children. J Am Coll Nutr. 1996; 15:113-20. Google Scholar7. Ninh NX, Thissen J, Collette L, Gerard G, Khoi HH, Ketelslegers J. Zinc supplementation increases growth and circulating insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in growth retarded Vietnamese children. Am J Clin Nutr. 1996; 63:514-9. Google Scholar8. Yokoi K, Alcock NW, Sandstead HH. Iron and zinc nutriture of premenopausal women: associations of diet with serum ferritin and plasma zinc disappearance and of serum ferritin with plasma zinc and plasma zinc disappearance. J Lab Clin Med. 1994; 124:852-61. Google Scholar9. Sazawal S, Black RE, Bhan MK, Bhandari N, Sinha A, Jalla S. Zinc supplementation in young children with acute diarrhea in India. N Engl J Med. 1995; 333:839-44. Google Scholar10. Prasad AS. Zinc and enzymes. In: Prasad AS, ed. Biochemistry of Zinc. New York: Plenum; 1993:17-53. Google Scholar11. Prasad AS, Beck FW, Endre L, Wenonah H, Kukuruga M, Kumar G. Zinc deficiency affects cell cycle and deoxythymidine kinase gene expression in HUT-78 cells. J Lab Clin Med. 1996; [In press]. Google Scholar12. Berg JM, Shi Y. The galvanization of biology: a growing appreciation for the roles of zinc. Science. 1996; 271:1081-5. Google Scholar13. Mossad SB, Macknin ML, Medendorp SV, Mason P. Zinc gluconate lozenges for treating the common cold. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Ann Intern Med. 1996; 125:81-8. Google Scholar14. Korant BD, Butterworth BE. Inhibition by zinc of rhinovirus protein cleavage: interaction of zinc with capsid polypeptides. J Virol. 1976; 18:298-306. Google Scholar15. Prasad AS, Meftah S, Abdallah J, Kaplan J, Brewer GJ, Bach JF, et al. Serum thymulin in human zinc deficiency. J Clin Invest. 1988; 82:1202-10. Google Scholar16. Brewer GS, Brewer LF, Prasad AS. Suppression of irreversibly sickled erythrocytes by zinc therapy in sickle cell anemia. J Lab Clin Med. 1979; 90:549-54. Google Scholar17. Brewer GJ, Bereza UL. Therapy of sickle cell anemia with membrane expander/calmodulin inhibitor classes of drugs In: Prasad AS, ed. Clinical, Biochemical, and Nutritional Aspects of Trace Elements. New York: Liss; 1982:211-20. Google Scholar18. Prasad AS, Brewer GJ, Schoomaker EB, Rabbani P. Hypocupremia induced by zinc therapy in adults. JAMA. 1978; 240:2166-8. Google Scholar19. Brewer GJ, Hill GM, Prasad AS, Cossack ZT, Rabbani P. Oral zinc therapy for Wilson's disease. Ann Intern Med. 1983; 99:314-20. Google Scholar20. Brewer GJ, Hill GM, Dick RD, Nostrant TT, Sams JS, Wells JJ, et al. Treatment of Wilson's disease with zinc: Ill. Prevention of reaccumulation of hepatic copper. J Lab Clin Med. 1987; 109:526-31. Google Scholar21. Chandra RK. Excessive intake of zinc impairs immune response. JAMA. 1984; 252:1443-6. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Ananda S. Prasad, MD, PhDAffiliations: Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201Corresponding Author: Ananda S. Prasad, MD, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University Health Center, 5C, 4201 St. Antoine, Detroit, MI 48201. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoZinc Gluconate Lozenges for Treating the Common Cold Sherif B. Mossad , Michael L. Macknin , Sharon V. 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