Zinc
An essential trace mineral concentrated in the brain's hippocampus, where it plays a critical role in synaptic transmission and memory formation. Zinc modulates NMDA and GABA receptors, supports BDNF expression, and is required for proper neurotransmitter release. Deficiency is common (estimated 17-25% of the global population) and directly impairs memory, attention, and mood.
Dosage
Standard: 15-30 mg elemental zinc daily. Do not exceed 40 mg daily long-term (can cause copper depletion). Zinc picolinate, zinc bisglycinate, and zinc carnosine are well-absorbed forms. Zinc oxide is poorly absorbed. Take with food to reduce nausea. If supplementing >15 mg daily, add 1-2 mg copper.
Dosages shown are for research reference only. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.
Half-Life
Tissue zinc turns over over weeks
Administration
Oral (capsules, tablets, lozenges). Take with food. Zinc picolinate or bisglycinate for best absorption.
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Mechanism of Action
Zinc is released from synaptic vesicles (via ZnT3 transporter) during neurotransmission from glutamatergic mossy fiber and Schaffer collateral terminals. It modulates NMDA receptors — at high concentrations zinc blocks the channel at a distinct site from Mg2+, while at low concentrations it potentiates via the GluN2A subunit. Zinc modulates GABA-A receptors (positive allosteric at alpha1, negative at alpha2/3) and glycine receptors. It is required for BDNF synthesis (zinc finger transcription factors) and TrkB signaling. Zinc-dependent enzymes include carbonic anhydrase (CAII, pH regulation), Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1, antioxidant defense), and matrix metalloproteinases (synaptic remodeling). In the hippocampus, zinc modulates long-term potentiation (LTP) via CaMKII and MAPK/ERK pathways — the cellular basis of memory formation. Zinc also regulates presynaptic vesicle release.
Regulatory Status
Dietary supplement and essential mineral. RDA: 8-11 mg daily. Available OTC worldwide.
Risks & Safety
Common
Nausea on empty stomach, metallic taste.
Serious
Long-term high-dose use (>40 mg daily) depletes copper, causing anemia and neurological problems.
Rare
Headache, diarrhea, reduced immune function (paradoxically) at very high doses.
Compare Zinc With
Research Papers
9Published: November 24, 2017
AI Summary
This article will focus on underlying mechanisms responsible for the regulation of cellular signaling by alterations in zinc homeostasis. Effects of fast zinc flux, intermediate "zinc waves", and late homeostatic zinc signals will be discriminated.
Published: February 16, 2024
AI Summary
Zinc cannot be stored in significant amounts, so regular dietary intake is essential. In circulation, 70% of zinc is bound to albumin, and the majority in the body is found in skeletal muscle and bone.
Published: June 25, 1999
AI Summary
Zinc compounds are not suspected carcinogens. Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (CaNa2EDTA) is the chelator of choice based on case reports that demonstrate normalization of zinc concentrations, but there are few clinical data to confirm the efficacy of this agent.
Published: February 20, 2006
AI Summary
Conservative estimates suggest that 25% of the world's population is at risk of zinc deficiency. This approach needs to be enhanced so that zinc deficiency or excess can be detected early.
Published: September 20, 2022
AI Summary
However, co-absorbing zinc with food may preferentially direct zinc to cellular compartments where zinc-dependent metabolic processes primarily occur. Although the current lack of sensitive biomarkers of zinc nutritional status reduces the capacity to assess the impact of fortifying foods with zinc, new approaches for assessing zinc utilization ...
Published: February 1, 2022
AI Summary
In the last decade, research on zinc biology has made dramatic progress based on the physiological and functional analysis of zinc transporters in the fields of molecular biology, human genetics, and drug discovery.
Published: July 14, 2020
AI Summary
Zinc deficiency induces several events associated with AMD pathogenesis, including increased oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and the resulting lipofuscinogenesis. Promising results with zinc deficiency and supplementation in AMD patients and animal models, as well as emerging evidence of the importance of autophagy in AMD, are the rationale...
Published: January 7, 2023
AI Summary
A significant two-way interaction exists between redox metabolism and the relatively redox-inert zinc ion. Since zinc transporters primarily control zinc homeostasis, we describe how changes in the expression and activity of these zinc-regulating proteins are associated with obesity.
Published: December 5, 2024
AI Summary
Currently, mild zinc deficiency is difficult to diagnose early due to the lack of typical clinical manifestations, so finding zinc biomarkers is crucial for people's health. The present article reviews the main representative zinc biomarkers, such as body fluid zinc levels, zinc-dependent proteins, tissue zinc, and zinc-containing enzymes, to pr...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Zinc used for?
An essential trace mineral concentrated in the brain's hippocampus, where it plays a critical role in synaptic transmission and memory formation. Zinc modulates NMDA and GABA receptors, supports BDNF expression, and is required for proper neurotransmitter release. Deficiency is common (estimated 17-25% of the global population) and directly impairs memory, attention, and mood.
What are the side effects of Zinc?
Common: Nausea on empty stomach, metallic taste. Serious: Long-term high-dose use (>40 mg daily) depletes copper, causing anemia and neurological problems. Rare: Headache, diarrhea, reduced immune function (paradoxically) at very high doses.
How is Zinc administered?
Zinc is administered via oral (capsules, tablets, lozenges). take with food. zinc picolinate or bisglycinate for best absorption..
What is the half-life of Zinc?
The half-life of Zinc is Tissue zinc turns over over weeks.
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