Zinc and the skin

Zinc metabolism in airway epithelium and airway inflammation: basic mechanisms and clinical targets. A review

In addition to basic housekeeping roles in metalloenzymes and transcription factors, dietary zinc (Zn) is an important immunoregulatory agent, growth cofactor, and cytoprotectant with anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory roles. These properties of Zn are of particular importance in maintaining homeostasis of epithelial tissues which are at the front line of defense. This review is about the role of Zn in airway epithelium (AE). The first part focuses on the cellular biology of Zn, and what is known about its distribution and function in AE. The second part of the review considers evidence for altered Zn metabolism in asthma and other chronic diseases of airway inflammation. Important issues arise from a potential therapeutic perspective as to the optimal ways to monitor circulating and epithelial Zn levels in patients and the most effective means of supplementing these levels.

Clinical response of alopecia, trichorrhexis nodosa, and dry, scaly skin to zinc supplementation

Two unrelated patients had dry brittle hair, alopecia, trichorrhexis nodosa, dry scaly skin, pigment dyschromia, short stature, and neurosecretory growth hormone deficiency. By means of the zinc tolerance test, patient 1 was shown to have zinc deficiency, whereas no clear zinc deficiency could be demonstrated in patient 2. In both patients, hair and the skin abnormalities responded to oral zinc therapy.

Acrodermatitis enteropathica in Saudi Arabia

Four patients with acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) are presented from three Saudi families. The clinical picture in these patients is basically similar to that described elsewhere. These patients, however, showed different degrees of involvement of various body systems. In all cases, low serum zinc levels were documented, and they responded well to zinc supplementation. In the follow-up evaluation, angular cheilitis was observed as a feature that appears to herald the relapse of disease. Interestingly, when patients are treated, it was the last sign to disappear. Current information on zinc is summarized.