Zinc Homeostasis in Exercise: Implications for Physical Performance

Zinc is involved in numerous metabolic functions, including energy metabolism, immunity and antioxidant activity [1]. The majority of zinc is found within the musculoskeletal system as part of protein complexes. In addition to providing structural stability for proteins, zinc also acts as a cofactor for metalloenzymes, including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and carbonic anhydrase (CA). At the muscle tissue level, exercise can disrupt cellular structures [2] which leads to the release of proteins and ions, such as zinc, from myocytes. In the initial stages of muscle repair, monocytes and leukocytes infiltrate muscle cells, initiating cytokine production and the subsequent inflammatory response [3]. Inflammatory cytokines have been shown to regulate the expression of cellular zinc transporters in a number of tissues and thereby alter zinc homeostasis [4]. In the present review we examine the interactions between exercise and zinc status in humans.