Zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) (ZnSO4)

Zinc sulfate is an inorganic chemical compound and a common pharmaceutical form of elemental zinc used primarily as a dietary supplement to treat and prevent zinc deficiency [3, 4]. It is not a biological target such as a receptor or enzyme; rather, it is a therapeutic agent that provides zinc ions, which are essential micronutrients for the activity of more than 300 enzymes and numerous transcription factors [8, 11]. These zinc-dependent proteins are critical for DNA synthesis, protein metabolism, and the maintenance of immune function and cell division [4, 15]. Clinically, zinc sulfate is a standard treatment for pediatric diarrhea, acrodermatitis enteropathica, and is used in the management of Wilson's disease to inhibit intestinal copper absorption [8, 19]. It is also frequently included in antioxidant formulations to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration [4]. Notable safety concerns associated with its use include gastrointestinal distress and the potential for inducing secondary copper deficiency during long-term administration [1, 6].

Other names

Zinc sulphateWhite vitriolZincateZinc(II) sulfateOrazincVerazincSulfuric acid zinc salt

Zinc sulfate acts as a source of elemental zinc ions (Zn2+), which serve as essential structural or catalytic cofactors for over 300 enzymes, including carbonic anhydrase and RNA polymerase [4, 8, 11]. Zinc ions are also integral to the structure of zinc-finger transcription factors, thereby regulating gene expression, and they modulate various signaling pathways such as MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT [11, 14, 18].