ROLE OF ZINC IN HEALTH & DISEASE - ZINC AS A THERAPEUTIC AGENT
DR T R RAMANUJAM M.D., C.MI.Biol (Lond)
PROLOGUE
PHARMACOLOGY OF ZINC
DOSING INFORMATION
PRECAUTIONS FOR DIETARY OR SUPPLEMENTAL ZN THERAPY
RECOMMENDED INCREASE IN DIETARY INTAKE OR SUPPLEMENTATION IS NEEDED
ZINC SUPPLEMENTS (SYSTEMIC)
PATIENTS ON ZINC REQUIRE MONITORING OF THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS
SIDE/ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ZINC
REFERENCES ON ZN DEF & USES
OTHER THERAPEUTIC USES OF ZN
PROLOGUE
Zinc is a divalent cation exhibiting important role in health & disease as evidenced by the role of Zn in the functional capacity more than 200 metallic enzymes including Carbonic anhydrase, Carboxypeptidases, Alcohol dehydrogenases, Alkaline phophatases, and RNA Polymerases etc., It is also required to maintain the structure of nucleic acid protein, cell membrane and also exerts vital role in various physiological functions viz., Cell growth, division, maturation and reproduction, Dark adaptation, night vision, Wound healing, host immunity, Taste acuity, Maintenance of pregnancy ,fetal growth etc., etc., Hence the importance of Zn in pre3gnancy,pediatrics, dermatology and their supplementation if total parenteral nutrition (TPN) need not be overemphasized . Therefore knowledge of the current status of Zn therapeutics as well as its adverse effects becomes mandatory for rationalized application of this divalent cation.
