A recent article published in Nutrients reported that the human body cannot store zinc reserves. Therefore, a deficiency can occur relatively quickly – for example, through an improper diet. Severe zinc deficiency is rare, but mild deficiencies are common globally.

The authors informed that many epidemiological studies have shown a relationship between zinc content in diet and the risk of cancer. The anti-cancer effect of zinc is most often attributed to its antioxidant properties. However, this is just one of the possibilities—including the influence of zinc on the immune system, transcription factors, cell differentiation and proliferation, DNA and RNA synthesis and repair, enzyme activation or inhibition, regulation of cellular signaling and the stabilization of the cell structure and membranes.

This article presented selected issues regarding the current knowledge of anti-cancer mechanisms involving zinc. Evidence indicates that zinc is an essential trace element for the activation or structural stabilization of several enzymes and transcription factors as well as the immune and antioxidant response, apoptosis and mental health. Supplementation and optimal intake of zinc can potentially restore the normal immune response and diminish the risk of infection. Whereas, an excess amount of zinc can have immunosuppressive effect.

Thus, the knowledge of the dual effect of zinc is needed to evaluate its beneficial and side effects in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Source: Nutrients. 2019 Oct; 11(10): 2273. Published online 2019 Sep 22. doi: 10.3390/nu11102273