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Role of Zinc in Zinc-α2-Glycoprotein Metabolism in Obesity: a Review of Literature

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Abstract

Excessive adipose tissue promotes the manifestation of endocrine disorders such as reduction of the secretion of zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG), an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and lipid-mobilizing activity. The molecular structure of this adipokine includes binding sites for zinc, a trace element with important antioxidant and immunological proprieties that also participates in energy metabolism and stimulates the function of ZAG. The objective of this review is to highlight current data on the metabolism of ZAG in obesity and the role of zinc in this process. The identified studies show that subjects with obesity have low serum concentrations of zinc and ZAG, as well as low expression of the genes encoding this protein. Thus, zinc appears to be an important regulator of the homeostasis of ZAG in the body; however, alterations in the metabolism of zinc in obesity appear to compromise the functions of ZAG. Therefore, further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between zinc and ZAG metabolism and its repercussions in obesity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Piaui, Campus Minister Petrônio Portela, Ininga, Teresina, Piaui, 64049-550, Brazil

    Juliana Soares Severo, Jennifer Beatriz Silva Morais, Jessica Batista Beserra, Loanne Rocha dos Santos, Stéfany Rodrigues de Sousa Melo & Dilina do Nascimento Marreiro

  2. Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

    Gustavo Santos de Sousa

  3. Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Piaui, Campus Minister Petrônio Portela, Ininga, Teresina, Piaui, Brazil

    Emídio Marques de Matos Neto

  4. School of Nursing, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 6627 Pres. Antônio Carlos Ave. Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Gilberto Simeone Henriques

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  1. Juliana Soares Severo
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  2. Jennifer Beatriz Silva Morais
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  3. Jessica Batista Beserra
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  4. Loanne Rocha dos Santos
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  5. Stéfany Rodrigues de Sousa Melo
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  6. Gustavo Santos de Sousa
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  8. Gilberto Simeone Henriques
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  9. Dilina do Nascimento Marreiro
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Contributions

Severo JS, Morais JBS, Beserra JS, Santos LR, and Sousa GS have participated to the redaction and the review of the manuscript; Matos Neto EM, Henriques GS, and Marreiro DN had supervised the paper, participated in the redaction, and the review of the paper. The authors contributed equally.

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Correspondence to Dilina do Nascimento Marreiro.

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Severo, J.S., Morais, J.B.S., Beserra, J.B. et al. Role of Zinc in Zinc-α2-Glycoprotein Metabolism in Obesity: a Review of Literature. Biol Trace Elem Res 193, 81–88 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01702-w

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