Zinc and Vitamin D aid each other, both improve immunity – May 2022

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Zinc and its role in vitamin D function

Current Research in Physiology Volume 5, 2022, Pages 203-207 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crphys.2022.04.001
Ashton Amos Mohammed S.Razzaque

Zinc is an essential mineral with an important relationship with vitamin D.

Studies have found that reduced blood zinc levels could predict vitamin D deficiency in adolescent girls, while zinc supplementation increased vitamin D levels in postmenopausal women.

In vitro studies using human peritoneal macrophages have found that zinc induced the release of calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol).

Zinc also acts as a cofactor for vitamin D functions, as the transcriptional activity of vitamin D-dependent genes relies on zinc to exert pleiotropic functions, including mineral ion regulation.

Vitamin D could also induce zinc transporters to regulate zinc homeostasis.

Together, zinc and vitamin D in adequate concentrations help maintain a healthy musculoskeletal system and beyond; however, deficiency in either of these nutrients can result in various disorders affecting almost all body systems.

This brief article will focus on the role of zinc in vitamin D functions.
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