Zinc, copper and vanadium - biological activity, nutrition and health

Zinc is an essential element required for the normal function of more than 300 enzymes (representing more than 50 different classes) and > 1000 transcription factors and is known to take part in many biochemical processes supporting life. The element is involved in protein, nucleic acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism, as well as in the control of gene transcription, cell differentiation, development, and growth. Zinc deficiency can promote different pathological states including retardation of growth development in children, hypoginadism, increased susceptibility to infections, dermatitis and delayed wound healing, alopecia, poor pregnancy outcomes, teratogenicity, etc. The prevalence of zinc deficiency is estimated to be high, with two billions of people affected, in particular in the developing world. In industrialized countries, elderly people are a high risk group for zinc deficiency. Copper is another essential metal with broad spectrum of biological activities. It is an integral part of metalloproteins and metalloenzymes involved in key biological processes supporting life such as cellular respiration, DNA replication and transcription, maintenance of cell membrane integrity, and sequestration of free radicals and critical in melanin and noradrenaline synthesis, myelin formation, cross-linkig of collagen and elastin. The deficiency of copper can lead to variety of adverse effects such as neutropenia, fragility in bones, aneurism formation in arteries. Most mammals have efficient transport systems to prevent accumulation of excess copper in cells and tissues. As a micronutrient vanadium is included in the list of 40 essential micronutrients that are required in small amounts for normal metabolism. In recent years there is a growing interest in the biological activity of vanadium, which is not surprising.BG; bg; EFSAfocalpoint@mzh.government.b