ZINC AND HUMAN HEALTH: IMPLICATIONS OF ZINC DEFICIENCY IN IMMUNE, GASTROINTESTINAL, DERMATOLOGICAL, AND METABOLIC DISORDERS

Zinc is an essential trace element involved in key biological processes, including enzymatic activity, gene expression, and immune regulation. Zinc deficiency remains a relevant health issue in specific populations and has been associated with the development and progression of several disease states. This narrative review summarizes current evidence on the role of zinc in selected immune-related, gastrointestinal, dermatological, and metabolic disorders. Data from clinical and observational studies are discussed in relation to disease-specific outcomes, dosage, formulation, and population characteristics. The aim of this review is to provide an evidence-based overview of the clinical relevance of zinc supplementation in the context of human health and disease. Methodology: This narrative review was conducted using a structured literature search to identify and analyze scientific publications addressing the role of zinc in human health and disease. The PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant articles. The search strategy included the following keywords: “zinc”, “zinc supplementation”, “zinc deficiency”, “human health”, “immune function”, “gastrointestinal disorders”, “dermatological conditions”, and “metabolic disorders”. Additional publications were identified through manual screening of reference lists of selected articles. Clinical studies, observational studies, and relevant reviews published in English were considered for inclusion based on their relevance to the selected disease states and clinical outcomes.