Abstract
Zinc is one of the most studied minerals of the twenty-first century as it is practically involved in every function of the body. The importance of zinc has earned it the epithet “calcium of twenty-first century.” However, the bioavailability of zinc depends on the source of zinc and the subsequent processes of digestion, absorption and metabolism. Zinc from organic sources tends to be more available to animals than from inorganic sources. The complex gastrointestinal physiology of ruminants makes these processes even more intricate. Zinc in the rumen interacts with other substances altering its fate. Absorption of zinc from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) was a mystery until the discovery of zinc transporter proteins. These discoveries opened new gates of wisdom and understanding about the tumultuous journey of zinc molecules through the complex GIT of ruminants. The decade-old concepts of zinc homeostasis largely based on the zinc complexes are jostling through the new theories with the focus on the free zinc ions. The present review briefly elucidates the processes of metabolism and homeostasis of zinc in ruminants.
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Schedule a callMore From: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences
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