Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41596683›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2026

Zinc Supplementation Partially Reconstitutes Impaired Interferon-γ Production in the Elderly.

Krisztina Olah, Johanna Zenk, Jana Jakobs, Thea Laurentius, Leo Cornelius Bollheimer, Lothar Rink

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Krisztina OlahInstitute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Johanna ZenkInstitute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Jana JakobsInstitute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-3005-0466
Thea LaurentiusDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Morillenhang 27, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Leo Cornelius BollheimerDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Morillenhang 27, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Lothar RinkInstitute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-5658-2893

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Aging impacts immunity, zinc status, and overall health, with these factors being closely interconnected. Zinc is known to modulate protein expression and cytokine production, with new molecular mechanisms continuing to be identified. ZIP8 facilitates IFN-γ production by increasing the intracellular zinc levels; how zinc status in humans affects ZIP8 expression remains unclear. We assessed serum zinc, dietary zinc intake, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated IFN-γ production, and ZIP8 protein expression in elderly hospitalized patients and young healthy controls. Compared to young adults, elderly participants exhibited lower zinc status and IFN-γ levels, with PPI use among the elderly correlating with zinc deficiency. Zinc-deficient elderly participants received zinc aspartate supplementation for approximately 7 days, resulting in increased serum zinc levels, IFN-γ production, and a trend toward increased ZIP8 expression; in participants taking PPIs, this increase reached statistical significance. Although we found no clear correlation between ZIP8 expression and zinc status, the observed response to supplementation warrants further investigation. These findings reinforce the relevance of zinc supplementation in the elderly, although further studies are needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking zinc status to IFN-γ production, particularly regarding the role of ZIP8 expression levels.

Indexed as

AgingDietary SupplementsInterferon-gammaZincAgedAged, 80 and overCation Transport ProteinsFemaleHumansMaleYoung AdultCation Transport ProteinsInterferon-gammaSLC39A8 protein, humanZincagingcytokinesdietary supplementsIFN-γproton pump inhibitorszinczinc supplementation

Identifiers

PMID41596683
PMCPMC12842025

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.