Abstract
The tremendous technological advances in trace element analysis seen in recent years have stimulated and facilitated research in a number of disciplines including microbiology, nutrition, agriculture, clinical medicine and, most recently, psychology. The importance of trace elements to human health is receiving greater attention as clinical cases of deficiency and toxicity are described. Zinc has been recognized as an essential trace element for humans since the early 1960s. It has been found to play a critical role in the physiological and biochemical well-being of humans. This review discusses the tissue distribution, concentration and intracellular binding of zinc in healthy humans. (Other reviews in this five-part series will appear in following issues.) The biochemical roles of zinc, including its involvement in the actions of metalloenzymes, cell synthesis, wound healing, growth, reproduction, hormone metabolism, cellular structural stability and immunological processes, are highlighted in order to provide an understanding of the unique and extensive role zinc plays in the biochemistry of the human body.