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Review
. 2023 Dec;201(12):5640-5651.
doi: 10.1007/s12011-023-03631-1. Epub 2023 Apr 1.

The Role of Zinc in Bone Tissue Health and Regeneration-a Review

Magda Molenda  1 , Joanna Kolmas  2
Affiliations
Review

The Role of Zinc in Bone Tissue Health and Regeneration-a Review

Magda Molenda et al. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Zinc is a micronutrient of key importance for human health. An increasing number of studies indicate that zinc plays a significant role in bone tissue's normal development and maintaining homeostasis. Zinc is not only a component of bone tissue but is also involved in the synthesis of the collagen matrix, mineralization, and bone turnover. It has been demonstrated that zinc can stimulate runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and promote the differentiation of osteoblasts. On the other hand, zinc has been found to inhibit osteoclast-like cell formation and to decrease bone resorption by stimulating osteoclasts' apoptosis. Moreover, zinc regulates the RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway, thereby facilitating bone remodeling. To date, not all mechanisms of Zn activity on bone tissue are well understood and documented. The review aimed to present the current state of research on the role of zinc in bone tissue, its beneficial properties, and its effects on bone regeneration. Since calcium phosphates as bone substitute materials are increasingly enriched in zinc ions, the paper included an overview of research on the potential role of such materials in bone filling and regeneration.

Keywords: Biomaterials; Bone tissue; Hydroxyapatite; Zinc; Zinc substitution.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A scheme for Zn activity in bone formation
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A scheme for Zn activity in bone resorption
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mechanism of antibacterial effect of nanoparticles of zinc compounds
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
XRD patterns of the samples with Zn fraction over 20 mol. %. a Zn40, b Zn60, c Zn80, and d Zn100 according to [108], with permission
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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