The Impact of Zinc Supplementation on the Course of Infections
Introduction Zinc plays a vital role in immune function, enhancing defense mechanisms and reducing infection duration and severity. Purpose of Research: This study aimed to assess the impact of zinc on immune function, its role in preventing and treating infections, particularly in vulnerable popu...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Quality in Sport |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/58153 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823856398036893696 |
|---|---|
| author | Justyna Woźniak Ewelina Kopczyńska Piotr Kulej Wiktor Biesiada Justyna Weronika Kmieć Anna-Mariia Chernysh Aleksandra Dusińska Jakub Waszczyński Kamila Fuczyło Karolina Stankevič |
| author_facet | Justyna Woźniak Ewelina Kopczyńska Piotr Kulej Wiktor Biesiada Justyna Weronika Kmieć Anna-Mariia Chernysh Aleksandra Dusińska Jakub Waszczyński Kamila Fuczyło Karolina Stankevič |
| author_sort | Justyna Woźniak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction
Zinc plays a vital role in immune function, enhancing defense mechanisms and reducing infection duration and severity.
Purpose of Research:
This study aimed to assess the impact of zinc on immune function, its role in preventing and treating infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly, and its interactions with vitamins D and C. Additionally, the research explored zinc’s effects on microbial cell membranes, gut microbiome balance, and immune modulation, focusing on age-related immune decline and infection susceptibility.
Materials and Methods:
The study utilized a comprehensive approach, combining literature reviews, clinical trials, experimental studies, and microbiota analyses to investigate zinc's role in immune function, infection management, and antimicrobial resistance.
Results:
Zinc was found to modulate the immune system, influencing T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, macrophages, and natural killer cells. Deficiency weakened immune responses, increasing infection risk. Zinc supplementation, especially with vitamins D and C, improved immune function, shortened infection duration, and alleviated symptoms. Zinc and vitamin D enhanced antimicrobial peptide production and epithelial barrier function, while zinc and vitamin C reduced oxidative stress and enhanced neutrophil activity. Zinc also destabilized microbial membranes, inhibiting bacterial and viral replication, including multi-drug-resistant strains. Furthermore, zinc supplementation improved gut microbiome composition, promoting beneficial bacteria and reducing pathogenic growth. Clinical studies confirmed its effectiveness in reducing respiratory infections, improving vaccine responses, and decreasing complications in vulnerable individuals.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0c22eaf9b9fd4d718f6d1167c9914827 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2450-3118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quality in Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-0c22eaf9b9fd4d718f6d1167c99148272025-02-12T08:26:15ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-02-013810.12775/QS.2025.38.58153The Impact of Zinc Supplementation on the Course of InfectionsJustyna Woźniak0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7785-4665Ewelina Kopczyńskahttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-5665-6043Piotr Kulej1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6655-6877Wiktor Biesiada2https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2662-5300Justyna Weronika Kmiećhttps://orcid.org/0009-0001-0570-9575Anna-Mariia Chernyshhttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-6900-1593Aleksandra Dusińskahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5197-9683Jakub Waszczyńskihttps://orcid.org/0009-0003-4156-2253Kamila Fuczyłohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3443-8663Karolina Stankevičhttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-3572-1066Independent Public Healthcare Institution of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, Kronikarza Galla 25,Regional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław Research and Development Center, H. M. Kamieńskiego 73a, 51-124 Wrocław Medical DoctorIntroduction Zinc plays a vital role in immune function, enhancing defense mechanisms and reducing infection duration and severity. Purpose of Research: This study aimed to assess the impact of zinc on immune function, its role in preventing and treating infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly, and its interactions with vitamins D and C. Additionally, the research explored zinc’s effects on microbial cell membranes, gut microbiome balance, and immune modulation, focusing on age-related immune decline and infection susceptibility. Materials and Methods: The study utilized a comprehensive approach, combining literature reviews, clinical trials, experimental studies, and microbiota analyses to investigate zinc's role in immune function, infection management, and antimicrobial resistance. Results: Zinc was found to modulate the immune system, influencing T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, macrophages, and natural killer cells. Deficiency weakened immune responses, increasing infection risk. Zinc supplementation, especially with vitamins D and C, improved immune function, shortened infection duration, and alleviated symptoms. Zinc and vitamin D enhanced antimicrobial peptide production and epithelial barrier function, while zinc and vitamin C reduced oxidative stress and enhanced neutrophil activity. Zinc also destabilized microbial membranes, inhibiting bacterial and viral replication, including multi-drug-resistant strains. Furthermore, zinc supplementation improved gut microbiome composition, promoting beneficial bacteria and reducing pathogenic growth. Clinical studies confirmed its effectiveness in reducing respiratory infections, improving vaccine responses, and decreasing complications in vulnerable individuals. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/58153zincsupplementationimmune systeminfecttionsvitamin Dvitamin C antimicrobial peptides |
| spellingShingle | Justyna Woźniak Ewelina Kopczyńska Piotr Kulej Wiktor Biesiada Justyna Weronika Kmieć Anna-Mariia Chernysh Aleksandra Dusińska Jakub Waszczyński Kamila Fuczyło Karolina Stankevič The Impact of Zinc Supplementation on the Course of Infections Quality in Sport zinc supplementation immune system infecttions vitamin D vitamin C antimicrobial peptides |
| title | The Impact of Zinc Supplementation on the Course of Infections |
| title_full | The Impact of Zinc Supplementation on the Course of Infections |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Zinc Supplementation on the Course of Infections |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Zinc Supplementation on the Course of Infections |
| title_short | The Impact of Zinc Supplementation on the Course of Infections |
| title_sort | impact of zinc supplementation on the course of infections |
| topic | zinc supplementation immune system infecttions vitamin D vitamin C antimicrobial peptides |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/58153 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT justynawozniak theimpactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT ewelinakopczynska theimpactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT piotrkulej theimpactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT wiktorbiesiada theimpactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT justynaweronikakmiec theimpactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT annamariiachernysh theimpactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT aleksandradusinska theimpactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT jakubwaszczynski theimpactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT kamilafuczyło theimpactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT karolinastankevic theimpactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT justynawozniak impactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT ewelinakopczynska impactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT piotrkulej impactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT wiktorbiesiada impactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT justynaweronikakmiec impactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT annamariiachernysh impactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT aleksandradusinska impactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT jakubwaszczynski impactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT kamilafuczyło impactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections AT karolinastankevic impactofzincsupplementationonthecourseofinfections |