Zincum Gluconicum – Zinc Gluconate

The attenuations are prepared from Zinc-D-gluconate, the Zinc salt of D-gluconic acid, C₁₂H₂₂ZnO₁₄ · 3H₂O, MW: 509.7.

Gluconic acid is distinguished from glucose (sugar) simply by the fact that, in- stead of the alcohol group of sugar, it has an acid group (COOH). Gluconic acid is a development of sugar and represents a practically ubiquitous biological unit; by cou- pling it with zinc, the opportunities for influencing various enzyme functions are clearly enhanced. For indeed, zinc has many trace element functions to fulfil. After iron, zinc is the trace element present in the largest quantities in the body. Zinc defi- ciency has an influence in many respects upon cancer. Thus, in the blood supply of neoplasms there is practically always a zinc deficiency, the consequence of which is faulty enzyme function. The deaminases of the lymphocytes only work in the pres- ence of zinc. Alcohol dehydrogenase (of yeast) is a zinc proteid, likewise glutaminic acid hydrogenase and lactic acid hydrogenase, which are found in the liver and can be formed from it. Alcohol dehydrogenase dehydrates glycerine to form glycerine aldehyde. In animal tissues the enzyme reacts with pyruvic acid, the active group thus being dehydrated again.

Carbonic anhydrase, which catalyses the reversible fission of carbonic acid in water and CO₂, contains 0.2–0.3% zinc, zinc thus being an essential component of the enzyme (molecular weight approx. 30,000). Carbonic anhydrase is also found in erythrocytes, in the gastric mucosa and in the epithelium of the renal glomeruli, and it can be blocked by inhibiting drug-treatments. This has an effect on the acid excre- tion from the kidneys, and may inhibit it, which leads to acidosis of the blood. By giving zinc it is possible, according to the Reversal effect, to achieve a re-induction of the blocked enzyme.

Carbonic anhydrase also plays a part in the secretion of gastric juices or hy- drochloric acid by providing carbonic acid which is necessary for the neutralisation of the hydroxyl ions.

Zinc forms complexes with insulin, the peptide chains in the insulin crystal being attached to the imidazole groups because of a chelation. The insulin-producing “-cells of the islets of Langerhans are particularly rich in zinc, probably attached to zinc complexes.

Pancreatic carboxypeptidase also contains zinc, SH-groups taking part in the bonding of the enzyme substrate, which once again proves the importance of the SH-groups.

Thus, by the administering of zinc compounds, it is possible to influence impor- tant enzyme functions, e.g. in anaemia, diabetes mellitus, liver damage, kidney dis- eases, degeneration phases, and particularly neoplasm phases.