Zinc, an essential mineral vital to the prenatal and postnatal development of infants, has also been found to activate an organic molecule that helps protect the body against oxidative stress. Aging and a low life expectancy are partly caused by oxidative stress.
German and American researchers from the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) in Germany and Auburn University (AU) in Alabama have discovered that zinc can protect against the superoxide responsible for oxidative stress. This occurs when zinc is taken together with a component found in foods such as wine, coffee, tea, and chocolate.
A superoxide is a reactive form of oxygen (or oxygen with an extra electron) that can leak from the respiratory enzymes and damage cells. It can also cause mutations in DNA or attack enzymes that make amino acids and other essential molecules.
Superoxide may contribute to the creation of many diseases, and also causes aging via the oxidative damage that it inflicts on cells. Superoxide is a by-product of human cell respiration that damages the body's own biomolecules, for example, proteins or lipids, as well as the human genome.
It's also thought to have a role to play in a number of illnesses such as inflammation, cancer or neurodegenerative diseases.
Zinc is a trace mineral humans need to remain healthy. FAU and AU researchers have discovered that zinc can protect against the superoxide responsible for oxidative stress when taken together with a component found in foodstuffs such as wine, coffee, tea, and chocolate.
This component is a hydroquinone group found in polyphenols, which is the plant substances responsible for smell and taste. Zinc triggers what is called the hydroquinone groups, thereby producing natural protection against superoxide.
The researchers said hydroquinone alone isn't capable of breaking down superoxide. If zinc and hydroquinone combine, however, a metal complex is formed that imitates a superoxide dismutase enzyme (SOD). SODs protect the body from the degradation processes caused by oxidation and have an antioxidative effect. They metabolize superoxide, thereby preventing damage to the organism and avoiding oxidative stress.
For the first time, the function of SOD has been copied without reverting to redox-active transition metals such as manganese, iron, copper or nickel. While the metals might also have an antioxidative effect, any positive effects are quickly diminished by the fact that if too much is taken, these transition metals can even cause oxidative stress to increase.
Zinc is much less toxic than these transition metals, making it possible for new medication or supplements to be developed with considerably fewer side-effects.
It would also be plausible to add zinc to food that contains hydroquinone naturally to boost the consumer's health.
Researchers said it is certainly possible that wine, coffee, tea or chocolate may well become be available in future with added zinc.
