Zinc is a crucial micronutrient, present in small amounts in the human body, less than 50 mg/kg. It is vital for the body's health due to its critical roles in growth and development, bone metabolism, the central nervous system, immune function, and wound healing, which is the focus of this article.
Zinc is a vital cofactor for the function of over 10% of proteins encoded by the human genome, representing no less than 3,000 proteins and enzymes. Zinc-dependent proteins play numerous indispensable roles within cells, such as transcriptional regulation, DNA repair, cell death, metabolic processing, regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and antioxidant defence.
It should be noted : this trace element cannot be stored by the body. Therefore, to reap its benefits, regular consumption of zinc-rich foods is essential. The food richest in zinc is the oyster, but there are others such as offal, red meat, wholemeal bread and eggs. The vast majority of zinc present in the human body is stored in skeletal muscles (60%), but reserves are also present in the bones (30%), skin (5%), liver and other organs (2 to 3%).
Zinc is particularly important for the skin. The skin contains a relatively high zinc content (approximately 5% of the body content), primarily associated within the epidermis (50-70 μg/g of dry weight). Due to its abundance in the epidermis, it is observed that a slight zinc deficiency results in rough skin and an alteration in wound healing.
Studies dating back to 1970 and earlier have demonstrated the significance of zinc concentrations in wound healing in patients suffering from thermal injuries or exposed to surgical stress.