Copper and Zinc Nutrient Foods

Abstract

Both zinc and copper, two most essential trace minerals perform important biochemical functions and are necessary for maintaining health throughout life. Zinc is majorly required for the structural integrity and/or catalysis of >200 enzymes, the majority of which are zinc metalloenzymes involved in nucleic acid and protein synthesis. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme encompassing both copper and zinc, is found in almost all oxygen-utilizing cells and is essential for catalyzing reactions mainly for removing the highly reactive superoxide anion (O2 − ). This paper garners information regarding the functional properties of metalloenzymes in food