biostudies-literatureUnknown2025Murdoch CCZinc (Zn) is an essential dietary nutrient metal that functions as a cofactor for numerous enzymes involved in diverse cellular processes, including energy metabolism. In humans, Zn deficiency afflicts an estimated one-third of the global population and is a prominent risk factor for numerous diseases, including the development of obesity and diabetes. It is known that severe Zn deficiency leads to impaired growth and development in animals, suggesting that this dietary micronutrient is required for the maintenance of organismal energy balance. However, the impact of Zn restriction on energy balance, specifically energy intake versus expenditure, remains incompletely described in existing murine models of Zn deficiency. Here, we characterized the impact of a prolonged Zn-restricted diet onJournal of nutrition and metabolism6911386https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12401606biostudies-literatureSevere Dietary Zinc Deficiency Does Not Significantly Alter Energy Balance in Adult Mice.PMC12401606Drury SLTraina KALantier LLEnriquez KTWinn NCMurdoch CCWeiss ASkaar EPfalseSevere Dietary Zinc Deficiency Does Not Significantly Alter Energy Balance in Adult Mice.Zinc (Zn) is an essential dietary nutrient metal that functions as a cofactor for numerous enzymes involved in diverse cellular processes, including energy metabolism. In humans, Zn deficiency afflicts an estimated one-third of the global population and is a prominent risk factor for numerous diseases, including the development of obesity and diabetes. It is known that severe Zn deficiency leads to impaired growth and development in animals, suggesting that this dietary micronutrient is required for the maintenance of organismal energy balance. However, the impact of Zn restriction on energy balance, specifically energy intake versus expenditure, remains incompletely described in existing murine models of Zn deficiency. Here, we characterized the impact of a prolonged Zn-restricted diet on2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-05-29T22:09:41.116Z2026-04-08T06:14:32.434ZS-EPMC124016064090128210.1155/jnme/6911386