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. 2020 Dec 26;13(1):53. doi: 10.3390/nu13010053

Table 2.

Therapeutic interventions with zinc in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Disease Effect (p-Value) Treatment Study Method Reference
OA Increased subchondral plate thickness, reduction of cartilage damage (p < 0.001) Knockout of ZIP8 in vivo (Chondrocyte-specific CKO fl/fl mice (Mtf1; Col2a1-Cre)) Kim, J.H.; et al. [149]
OA Increased serum antioxidative capacity, glutathione levels, and IL-10 levels; lower Osteo-arthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scores (p < 0.05)
Reduced IL-1β and MMP-13 expression; increased ROS production (p < 0.05)
1.6 mg/kg/day of zinc supplementation;
25 μM zinc
in vivo (n = 5, mono-sodium-induced iodoacetate (MIA) Wistar rats)
in vitro
(chondrosarcoma cell line (SW1353 cells) treated with 5 μM MIA)
Huang, T.C.; et al. [150]
OA Decreased cartilage degeneration (cartilage breakdown products TIINE, ARGN, and AGEG) (p < 0.001) MMP-13 inhibitor PF152 ex vivo
(human cartilage explants)
in vivo
(n = 60, beagle dogs with OA-induced by partial medial meniscectomy)
Settle, S.; et al. [165]
OA Chondroprotection MMP-13 inhibitor 43a in vivo
(n = 2 male Sprague-Dawley IGS rats)
(n = 5 male beagle dogs)
(n = 2 cynomolgus monkeys)
Ruminski, P.G.; [166]
OA Reduction of cartilage
damage (p < 0.05)
MMP-13 inhibitor ALS 10635 in vivo
(n = 12, MIA-induced OA male Sprague-Dawley rat)
(n = 20 surgical induced OA male Lewis rats)
Baragi, V.M.; et al. [167]
OA Inhibition of aggrecanase activity (p < 0.001) Humanized anti-ADAMTS-5 monoclonal antibody, GSK2394002 in vivo
(n = 20 DMM male Swiss Webster mice)
Larkin, J.; et al. [169]
OA Blockage of IL-6R ADAM17, ADAM inhibitor,
GW280264X
in vitro
(cultured cells)
Ludwig, A.; et al. [170]
OA Lower use of analgesics (p < 0.001) and /or NSAIDs (p < 0.02), improved WOMAC scale (p < 0.001) Phytalgic capsules three times daily:
10 mg zinc citrate,
1371 mg fish oil, 60 mg nettle leaves Urtica dioica L., 12 mg Vitamin E, 12 mg Vitamin C
Double-blind randomised Controlled Trial
(n = 81)
Jacquet, A.; et al. [151]
RA DAS-28 score and serum hs-CRP (p < 0.01); increased antioxidant markers (TAC, GPX, SOD, and CAT) (p < 0.01) One Selenplus capsule daily:
50 μg selenium, 8 mg zinc oxide, 400 μg vitamin A, 125 mg vitamin C, and 40 mg vitamin E
Pre-post Controlled Trial
(n = 40 female)
Jalili, M.; et al. [152]
RA No beneficial effect on inflammation or clinical indices 220 mg zinc sulphate (45 mg elemental zinc) three times daily Controlled Trial
(n = 18)
Peretz, A.; et al. [153]
RA No considerable alterations in ROS amounts of monocytes 130 mg zinc aspartate two times daily in vivo and in vitro
Following treatment with zinc, after in vitro monocyte stimulation with 0.1 mM zinc (II)
Herold, A.; et al. [154]
RA positive changes regarding joint swelling, morning stiffness, walking time; no improvements regarding grip strength 220 mg zinc sulfate (45 mg elemental zinc) three times daily Double-blind Controlled Trial
(n = 24)
Simkin, P.A. [155]
RA Increased phagocytic activity of PMNs; unknown clinical effect (lack of statistical analysis) 45 mg elemental zinc daily (zinc gluconate) Controlled Trial
(n = 22)
Peretz, A.; et al. [156]
RA No change in ESR, HCT or joint scores in severe RA patients (lack of statistical analysis) 220 mg zinc sulfate (45 mg elemental zinc) three times daily Controlled Trial
(n = 22)
Rasker, J.J.; et al. [157]
RA No statistically significant therapeutic effect; increase of alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.01) 220 mg zinc sulfate (45 mg elemental zinc) three times daily Double-blind Randomised Controlled Trial
(n = 27)
Mattingly, P.C.; et al. [159]
RA Greater use of supplemental zinc (p-trend = 0.03) was inversely associated with rheumatoid arthritis Supplemental zinc (10.4-15.5 mg/day)
or food only containing zinc (9.7-13.5 mg/day)
Prospective cohort study
(n = 29,368 females)
Cerhan, J.R.; et al. [160]
RA Reduced cartilage degradation and disease progression (p < 0.05) MT1MMP selective inhibitory antibody DX2400 and/or TNFRFc fusion protein in vivo
(CIA-treated mice)
Kaneko, K.; et al. [163]
RA and OA Inhibition of MMP-9; promotion of survival, invasion and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by FLS (p < 0.01) Andecaliximab in vitro
(OA and RA synovial fibroblasts)
Xue, M.; et al. [164]