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Zinc is essential for growth and development, neurological function, wound healing and immunocompetence (SCF, 2003). The main clinical manifestations of zinc deficiency are growth retardation, delay in sexual maturation or increased susceptibility to infections (SCF, 2003).

Important in this context is the maintenance of the physiological zinc homeostasis. Disturbance of this zinc homeostasis through for example excessive zinc exposure have been implicated with neurogenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Wilson’s disease undefined (Konoha et al., 2006) or with immunosuppressive effects (Raqib et al.,2007), but the exact mechanisms have not been elucidated.There is at this stage no evidence that zinc has any neurotoxicological or immunotoxicological effects under normal zinc exposure conditions and at recommended zinc intake levels. Zinc deficiency, however, adversely affects neurological function and immune competence.