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1764712 
Journal Article 
Review 
Role of nutritional zinc in the prevention of osteoporosis 
Yamaguchi, M 
2010 
1 
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
ISSN: 0300-8177
EISSN: 1573-4919 
338 
1-2 
241-254 
English 
20035439 
WOS:000276745400026 
Zinc is known as an essential nutritional factor in the
growth of the human and animals. Bone growth retardation is a common finding in various
conditions associated with dietary zinc deficiency. Bone zinc content has been shown to decrease
in aging, skeletal unloading, and postmenopausal conditions, suggesting its role in bone
disorder. Zinc has been demonstrated to have a stimulatory effect on osteoblastic bone formation
and mineralization; the metal directly activates aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, a rate-limiting
enzyme at translational process of protein synthesis, in the cells, and it stimulates cellular
protein synthesis. Zinc has been shown to stimulate gene expression of the transcription factors
runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) that is related to differentiation into osteoblastic
cells. Moreover, zinc has been shown to inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption due to inhibiting
osteoclast-like cell formation from bone marrow cells and stimulating apoptotic cell death of
mature osteoclasts. Zinc has a suppressive effect on the receptor activator of nuclear factor
(NF)-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis. Zinc transporter has been shown to
express in osteoblastic and osteoclastic cells. Zinc protein is involved in transcription. The
intake of dietary zinc causes an increase in bone mass. beta-Alanyl-l-histidinato zinc (AHZ) is a
zinc compound, in which zinc is chelated to beta-alanyl-l-histidine. The stimulatory effect of
AHZ on bone formation is more intensive than that of zinc sulfate. Zinc acexamate has also been
shown to have a potent-anabolic effect on bone. The oral administration of AHZ or zinc acexamate
has the restorative effect on bone loss under various pathophysiologic conditions including
aging, skeletal unloading, aluminum bone toxicity, calcium- and vitamin D-deficiency, adjuvant
arthritis, estrogen deficiency, diabetes, and fracture healing. Zinc compounds may be designed as
new supplementation factor in the prevention and therapy of osteoporosis. 
Zinc; Bone formation; Bone resorption; Osteoporosis