Cellular actions of polaprezinc and ZnCl2 were estimated by flow-cytometric techniques with appropriate fluorescent probes in rat thymocytes.
Both agents had almost equal stimulatory effects on the intracellular Zn2 + level and cellular level of nonprotein thiol in a similar concentration-dependent manner. However, the increase in cell lethality caused by ZnCl2 under severe oxidative stress was significantly greater than that caused by polaprezinc.
There are various zinc supplements, for example, zinc gluconate, zinc picolinate, and zinc methionine. However, the differences in their cellular actions have not been elucidated to date. Such studies could distinguish between zinc supplements.