Mise au point sur l'effet thérapeutique et préventif du zinc en médecine générale : Révision de la littérature scientifique.

Introduction: Zinc is attracting significant renewed interest due to its therapeutic and preventive potential. This thesis, entitled "Update on the therapeutic and preventive effect of zinc in general practice: a review of the scientific literature", aims to deepen our understanding of the efficacy of zinc in the field of general practice. Methodology: A review of the existing literature using scientific databases such as Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase and Google Scholar. More than 1500 systematic reviews, meta-analyses and clinical trials were identified according to key words based on the PICO approach. Following a re-reading and a second, more targeted research on the pathologies of interest, a total of 118 articles were included in this thesis. Results: Zinc has been shown to be a versatile substance in the treatment and prevention of a variety of medical conditions. In preventive medicine, it is effective in reducing the incidence of pneumonia in children and the elderly. In pediatrics, it effectively treats acute and chronic diarrhea. In dermatology, it is used for a variety of inflammatory diseases such as moderate acne and rosacea. It has also proven to be useful for reducing the symptoms of viral diseases and has shown advantages in the management of gynecological and psychiatric disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome and depression. In addition, it is effective for less common conditions such as idiopathic dysgeusia and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. In a recent paradigm change, it is now considered the standard treatment for Wilson's disease. It has also shown positive effects in the treatment of exhaustion syndromes, including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Conclusion: The breadth and diversity of zinc's therapeutic applications make it an essential and versatile treatment option for general practitioners.