Summary:
This article examined the role of zinc in regulating inflammation, oxidative stress and cardiovascular health, with a focus on its role in inflammatory cardiac conditions such as myocarditis and pericarditis. Zinc is an essential micronutrient involved in immune function, antioxidant defence, cellular signalling and metabolism. Evidence suggests that inadequate zinc status may contribute to increased inflammation, impaired immune responses and greater susceptibility to chronic disease. The review highlights that zinc helps regulate inflammatory pathways and supports the production of anti-inflammatory proteins. Maintaining adequate zinc levels may therefore help prevent prolonged inflammatory responses that contribute to disease progression. Zinc also plays an important role in protecting cells from oxidative stress. It supports antioxidant enzymes, helps maintain glutathione levels and protects cellular proteins from oxidative damage. Through these actions, zinc may reduce tissue damage caused by excessive reactive oxygen species. Given the heart’s high oxygen demand, it is particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage. The review suggests that reduced zinc availability may contribute to cardiac injury by increasing oxidative stress, inflammation and cell damage. Experimental studies indicate that zinc supplementation may help protect heart cells after injury by reducing oxidative damage and supporting protective cellular pathways. The authors propose that zinc may have potential therapeutic relevance for inflammatory cardiac diseases, including myocarditis and pericarditis, which are characterised by immune activation, increased oxidative stress and tissue damage. Overall, this review suggests that maintaining adequate zinc status may support cardiovascular health through its combined antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating effects.
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Abstract:
Zinc (Zn) is a trace element essential for the function of over 10% of the human proteome, yet the average adult body contains only about two grams. Despite its trace status, Zn plays an indispensable role in immune regulation, inflammation control, and redox signalling. Low Zn status is associated with impaired immune function and increased oxidative stress—factors that critically contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiac inflammatory diseases (CIDs), including myocarditis and pericarditis. These conditions are rising in incidence globally, particularly in younger adults, and are linked to viral infections, autoimmune triggers, and post-vaccination inflammatory responses. Zn not only protects cysteine thiol groups from oxidation but also acts as a redox-sensitive secondary messenger via the “Redox Zinc Switch” mechanism—a key process in modulating cellular responses to oxidative stress. In the cardiovascular system, Zn influences antioxidant defence, cytokine regulation, and membrane repair pathways, including cellular responses that are regulated by protein kinase C and metallothioneins. Emerging evidence supports Zn supplementation as a strategy to mitigate myocardial inflammation, reduce cardiac remodelling, and improve outcomes in oxidative stress driven heart diseases. This review synthesizes current knowledge on Zn’s biochemical, immunological, and therapeutic roles in cardiac inflammation. We argue that maintaining optimal Zn levels through diet or supplementation represents a promising, accessible intervention to reduce the burden of CIDs and improve cardiovascular resilience in at-risk populations.
Article Publication Date: 26/02/2026
DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfag004
