Zinc and sickle cell anemia patients:
Tapazoglou et al studied the relationship between zinc and natural killer activity in adults with sickle cell disease and 2 volunteers without the disease that were zinc deficient due to diet. Zinc deficiency is associated with lower immune response. Natural killer cells are critical to the immune system by providing rapid immune response to virally infected cells. Researchers found a significantly lower level of natural killer activity in patients with sickle cell and zinc deficiency (5.1 lytic units per 10(6) cells) than in controls (11.7 lytic units per 10(6) cells). However, when the two volunteers’ zinc intake was increase, natural killer activity also increased. Therefore, authors conclude there is a linear relationship between zinc and natural killer cell activity. (10)