Zinc is an essential trace element exerting important antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and apoptotic effects. It is critical to a large number of structural proteins, enzymatic processes, and transcription factors. Zinc affects growth and development, and participates in processes such as aging and cancer induction. Zinc deficiency can result in a spectrum of clinical manifestations. The liver is the main organ responsible for the zinc metabolism. On one hand, zinc deficiency affects several liver functions and on the other hand various liver diseases influence the zinc metabolism. Symptoms, such as poor appetite, loss of body hair, altered taste and smell, delayed wound healing, testicular atrophy, immune dysfunction and diminished drug elimination capacity are common in patients with chronic liver diseases, especially cirrhosis. In the present review, data on zinc homeostasis, its implication in the pathogenesis of various liver diseases, and its therapeutic effects are summarized.