Zinc (Zn) is one of the most important essential nutrients of great public health significance. It is involved in numerous biological functions and it is considered as a multipurpose trace element, due to its capacity to bind to more than 300 enzymes and more than 2000 transcriptional factors. Its role in biochemical pathways and cellular functions, such as the response to oxidative stress, homeostasis, immune responses, DNA replication, DNA damage repair, cell cycle progression, apoptosis and aging is significant. Zn is required for the synthesis of protein and collagen, thus contributing to wound healing and a healthy skin. Metallothioneins are metal-binding proteins and they are potent scavengers of heavy metals, including Zn, and protect the organism against stress. Zn deficiency is observed almost in 17% of the global population and affects many organ systems, leading to dysfunction of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, thus increasing the susceptibility to infection. This review gives a thorough insight into the most recent evidence on the association between Zn biochemistry and human pathologies, epigenetic processes, gut microbial composition, drug targets and nanomedicine.

中文翻译：

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锌对人体健康的影响的最新方面。

锌是具有重大公共卫生意义的最重要的必需营养素之一。它具有多种生物学功能，由于它能够结合300多种酶和2000多种转录因子，因此被认为是多用途微量元素。它在生化途径和细胞功能中的作用非常重要，例如对氧化应激的反应，体内平衡，免疫反应，DNA复制，DNA损伤修复，细胞周期进程，细胞凋亡和衰老。锌是蛋白质和胶原蛋白合成所必需的，因此有助于伤口愈合和健康的皮肤。金属硫蛋白是金属结合蛋白，它们是包括锌在内的重金属的有效清除剂，可以保护生物体免受压力。锌缺乏症在全球约17％的人口中观察到，并影响许多器官系统，导致体液免疫和细胞介导的免疫功能异常，从而增加了对感染的易感性。这篇综述对锌生物化学与人类病理学，表观遗传过程，肠道微生物组成，药物靶标和纳米药物之间的关联提供了最新证据的透彻洞察。