ST6GALNAC1 and Zinc deficiency: However, while dithizone does not impact intestinal goblet cell numbers [14], the reduction in goblet cell expression of FCGBP and ST6GALNAC1 genes in NEC compared to formula pups, along with a recent study suggesting that zinc deficiency hinders goblet cell function [70], indicates that dithizone-induced zinc chelation may potentially influence goblet cell function.