Issue 4/2024
Krasimirova D., Ruseva, Zh.
Department of General Medicine, Medical University – Varna
Zinc is an essential microelement and it is necessary for the right function of the liver, and it also plays a leading role in the support of the epithelium wholeness of the gastrointestinal tract. Chronic alcohol use causes reduction of the level of zinc in the intracellular space, and later on its serum concentration. In moderately heavy deficit of zinc it reaches to oxidative stress in the cellular matrix of the lung and liver, and also of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.
Aim: To present the pathogenesis of the violated cellular zinc homeostasis in alcohol abuse and how the zinc deficit takes part in pathogenesis of the alcohol damage in GIT, hepar and lung.
Materials and methods: Analyses of literary sources
Results: In the chronic alcohol disease a low level of zinc is observed, which leads to oxidative stress. Inactivation of zinc proteins, due to the release of zinc in condition /state/ of oxidative stress defines the inducted from the alcohol metabolic disorders and cellular damage. Adding zinc and antioxidant elements to the therapy in the diseases from the alcohol disorder contributes to stabilization of the function of the intestinal barrier, degradation of the endotoxemy, reduction of the production of cytokines, reduction of the oxidative stress and reduction of the hepatocyte apoptosis.
Key words: Zinc, alcohol, Liver damages, Oxidative stress
Address for correspondence:
Dr. Daniela Krasimirova, GP
Razgrad, 46, „Clement“, Str.
e-mail: daniela-medika@abv.bg