Zinc y diabetes: un nutriente inportante en su prevención y tratamiento / Zinc in the prevention and treatment of diabetes

ABSTRACT

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for humans and other organisms. It participates in the activity of more than 300 enzymes and in important cellular processes such as cell division and apoptosis, as well as cellular signaling. The concentration of Zn in humans is highly regulated, and alterations in Zn homeostasis have been associated with several diseases including diabetes. Zn supplementation in humans and other mammals has been associated with improved glycemic control in both type 1 and t type 2 diabetes mellitus, however the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in this process have not yet been fully elucidated. Zn appears to have a key role in insulin biosynthesis and activity, mainly by decreasing the production of certain cytokines such as IL-1beta and IL-6, associated with pancreatic beta cell death during the inflammatory process characteristic of type 2 diabetes. It also improves insulin mediated signal transduction in target cells, improving metabolic control. Zn could play an important role in the development of diabetes mellitus, since a genetic polymorphism of the Zn transporter ZnT-8 may be associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In this article we analyze the available information supporting the therapeutic use of Zn as a coadjutant in the metabolic control of diabetes mellitus.