Dual Perspectives on Peptide–Zinc Complexation: Highlighting Aquatic Sources While Contextualizing Other Natural Origins

Abstract

Zinc is an essential mineral for the body, with chelated zinc valued for its superior absorption efficiency and bioavailability. This review systematically examines peptide–zinc interactions, covering fundamental concepts, historical evolution, current insights, clinical relevance, technological innovations, and future outlooks. It delves into chelation mechanisms and structural theories, summarizes historical milestones in bioavailability research—particularly aquatic protein–zinc interactions—and details current studies on chelation efficacy and interaction dynamics. Clinical applications in nutritional supplements, therapeutic potential, and trial progress are discussed, alongside advances in analytical techniques, complex synthesis, and computational modeling. Future directions highlight emerging trends, application prospects, and challenges in bioavailability research, offering a comprehensive framework for subsequent investigations and practical implementations.