Zinc and immunoresistance to infection in aging: new biological tools

Infections can cause mortality when the immune system is damaged. The catal ytic, structural tin zinc-finger proteins) and regulatory roles of zinc mea n that this ion is involved in the maintenance of an effective immune respo nse. Both zinc deficiency and impaired cell-mediated immunity combine durin g aging to result in increased susceptibility to infection. Dietary supplem entation with the recommended daily allowance of zinc for between one and t wo months decreases the incidence of infection and increases the survival r ate following infection in the elderly. This article reviews the biochemica l pathways through which zinc might act to increase immunoresistance to inf ection in the elderly.