Abstract

Author(s): Martins, Luana Mota1; Oliveira, Ana Raquel Soares de1; Cruz, Kyria Jayanne Clímaco1; Morais, Jennifer Beatriz Silva2; Severo, Juliana Soares2; Freitas, Taynáh Emannuelle Coelho de2; Marreiro, Dilina do Nascimento3

Visceral fat accumulation in obesity appears to be associated with the presence of endocrine disorders, highlighting dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis, which is hyper-responsive, enhancing the release of cortisol in obese patients. The literature shows that cortisol can influence, indirectly, the intracellular and plasma zinc concentrations, which promotes the compartmentalization of this mineral in erythrocytes. Therefore, the aim of this review is to bring data on the influence of cortisol in the metabolic behavior of zinc in obese individuals. A narrative review was conducted, and the literature was carried out in the databases PubMed, SciELO, Lilacs, using the following key words: “obesity”, “zinc”, “cortisol”, “metallothionein”. Given the severity of metabolic disorders found in obesity, it becomes evident the need to clarify the influence of cortisol hypersecretion on zinc metabolism in obese patients, which will enable the development of strategies, for example, the possible supplementation with zinc in the perspective of prevention and treatment of disorders associated with this chronic disease.