Abstract:Zinc is an essential trace element for the human body and has a wide range of physiological functions.Zinc deficiency and the resulted malnutrition are the major nutritional health problems in China.The peptide-zinc complex as a new effective zinc supplement has attracted much attention.However，its absorption form and mechanism have not been fully clarified，and the structures of the peptides capable of binding to zinc remain to be characterized.The mechanism of zinc absorption was discussed in terms of the structural stability and absorption specificity of peptide-zinc complexes.The factors affecting the structural stability of peptide-zinc complexes were reviewed.The structural characteristics of peptides capable of binding to zinc and the protective effects of the peptides on zinc ions were expounded.Furthermore，multiple absorption models were employed to analyze the absorption and transport mechanisms of peptide-zinc complexes in intestinal epithelial cells，which provided a theoretical basis for the development of novel efficient peptide-zinc complexes as zinc supplements.