Impact of zinc on immunometabolism and its putative role on respiratory diseases.

Zinc is the second most abundant trace mineral in the human body and plays a critical role in immune cell function and metabolism. Zinc deficiency impairs immune cell function and is associated with increased susceptibility to respiratory diseases, including pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19. Zinc homeostasis, maintained by numerous zinc transporters and metal-binding proteins (ie, metallothionein), is essential for coordinating immune cell signaling, gene expression, and enzymatic activities in response to respiratory infections. This article highlights the emerging role of zinc in various aspects of immune function, particularly through its influence on cellular metabolism. Given the significant global burden of respiratory diseases, there is a need to identify effective nutritional interventions that could be readily leveraged to prevent and/or mitigate respiratory disease risk, particularly in older adults who are prone to zinc deficiency. However, the immunometabolic mechanisms underlying zinc's protective effects remain poorly characterized. Future research should focus on elucidating how micronutrients, such as zinc, can support changes in immune cell metabolism in response to infections. Such efforts will help determine how zinc metabolism and zinc intervention strategies may best be leveraged to prevent or mitigate respiratory disease.