Modulation of zinc levels to improve tissue properties

Abstract

Methods of altering properties of tissues, by providing an effective modifying amount of zinc, which may be in the form of zinc ions. This is accomplished through the use of topical compositions containing one or more zinc-containing components such as salts and/or other zinc compounds or complexes, particularly zinc acetate. Altering properties of tissues includes increasing or decreasing fatty tissue, increasing or decreasing epidermal thickness, increasing elastin content, and preventing or treating gum regression or atrophy. Also disclosed is the provision of a contact lens coated with a zinc-containing material, to improve vision by increasing elastin content of the lens of the eye through release of zinc ions.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method for increasing epidermal thickness in a subject comprising topically applying a composition consisting essentially of one or more zinc-containing components in admixture with a dermatologically or pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, in an effective epidermal-thickness-increasing amount, to a site of the skin of the subject in need of increased epidermal thickness. 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the composition is topically applied to one or more areas in the face that have fine lines or wrinkles, and/or to other areas of the skin exhibiting epidermal atrophy due to age or due to an underlying pathological state. 
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the composition comprises one or more zinc compounds. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the composition comprises one or more zinc salts. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 39  wherein the one or more zinc salts is selected from the group consisting of zinc acetate, ascorbate, aspartate, butyrate, caproate, caprylate, carbonate, chromate, citraconate, citramalate, citrate, EDTA, formate, fumarate, gallate, gluconate, halides, iodate, lactate, laurate, laureate, malate, maleate, malonate, metaphosphate, methanesulfonate, monophosphate, myristate, nitrate, octoate, oleate, orotate, orthophosphate, oxalate, oxides, palmitate, permanganate, phenolsulfonate, phosphate, picolinate, propionate, pyrophosphate, salicylate, selenite, stearate, succinate, sulfate, sulfonate, tannate, tartrate, tetrametaphosphate, titanate, transferrin, tripolyphosphate, undecylate, and valerate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 40  wherein the composition comprises zinc acetate. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the composition comprises one or more zinc chelates. 
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the composition comprises one or more zinc complexes. 
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the carrier is a dermatologically acceptable carrier and further comprises a moisturizer. 
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the one or more zinc-containing component is present in the composition in a concentration of from about 1.0 pM to about 900 μM. 
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the one or more zinc-containing component is present in the composition in a concentration of from about 100 pM to about 500 μM. 
     
     
         47 - 98 . (canceled) 
     
     
         99 . A method for increasing epidermal thickness a region of skin of a subject that is in need of increased epidermal thickness, the method consisting essentially of applying topically a composition consisting essentially of one or more zinc-containing components in admixture with a dermatologically acceptable carrier to the region of skin of the subject,
 wherein the one or more zinc-containing components is selected from the group consisting of zinc acetate, zinc ascorbate, zinc aspartate, zinc butyrate, zinc caproate, zinc caprylate, zinc carbonate, zinc citraconate, zinc citramalate, zinc citrate, zinc EDTA, zinc formate, zinc fumarate, zinc gallate, zinc gluconate, zinc halides, zinc lactate, zinc malate, zinc maleate, zinc malonate, zinc metaphosphate, zinc monophosphate, zinc nitrate, zinc octoate, zinc orotate, zinc orthophosphate, zinc oxalate, zinc phosphate, zinc picolinate, zinc propionate, zinc pyrophosphate, zinc salicylate, zinc selenate, zinc succinate, zinc sulfate, zinc sulfonate, zinc tartrate, zinc tetrametaphosphate, zinc tripolyphosphate, zinc valerate, zinc amino acid complexes, zinc nucleotide complexes, and mixtures thereof,   wherein zinc of the said one or more zinc-containing components is present in the composition at a concentration that increases epidermal thickness without causing irritation due to zinc,   wherein said concentration is in the range of 1.0 pM to 900 μM, and   wherein the epidermal thickness in the region of skin is increased.