Zinc

STRENGTH: 50 mg
FORM: 100 Tablets

There has never been a time in history when the need for nutrients like zinc has been greater. We, as a society, have been plagued with a host of diseases that have made us sicker for longer periods of time than any researcher can remember in recent history. Zinc is present in small amounts throughout the body, especially the bones, teeth and other specific soft tissues. Zinc is also a part of many of the enzyme systems in the body that are required to keep us healthy. Many of the foods that we eat are supposed to contain zinc, but don’t because unless they are in their natural state much of the nutrient content has been stripped away. And of what zinc is found in foods only about 30 percent is absorbed by the body through the intestines. There are many hurdles that nutrients must over come to be absorbed. Absorption can be decreased by certain types of fiber, calcium, copper, phytates, and dietary phosphate such as those found in soda. An acidic environment is needed to absorb minerals properly, so those that have gastrointestinal issues may have a problem utilizing this nutrient.

Mineral deficiencies like that of Zinc were first seen in adolescents from developing countries more than 30 years ago. It has become a common health problem for adults and children living in both developing and developed countries even today. Zinc is an extremely important nutrient, especially for developing children because it is known to be essential for brain development. In studies that were done on adult men, where they were treated with chemicals that removed zinc from the body, they experienced more mood swings and deficits in visual perception and verbal memory. In another highly controlled, 6-month study at the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center it was found that men with low zinc intakes had faster, but less accurate performance levels on tasks measuring verbal and nonverbal memory. In animal studies when mice, rats and primates are deprived of zinc during critical periods of brain development, they exhibit many behavioral deficits, particularly in memory, activity, aggression and socialization. Severe zinc deprivation in adult animals also causes mild to severe behavior problems. Just look around at our society, at your neighbors, and others around you… and you may see what could be classified as sub-clinical mental disorders! So how can you get enough zinc in your diet and into your body? Good food sources of zinc are: oysters, beef, pork, liver, dried beans and peas, whole grains, fortified cereals, nuts, milk, cocoa and poultry. Zinc deficiency in the diet has been reported to be the cause of anemia, retardation in growth, and delayed genital maturation. Taking a Zinc multivitamin will usually take care of it.

Note: Please keep in mind that the RDI’s for nutrients in general that were established years ago are only guidelines and in reality are outdated. These levels are those that would barely keep a person alive, what the people who helped to set these guidelines don’t take into account is bioavailability and optimal dose rates for health. They assume that the entire amount of what is suggested in the RDI is absorbed; this is incorrect and necessitates the need for supplements because the daily intake from other sources is so low, and when they are ingested they are not well absorbed in many cases.

The RDI for Zinc is:
Men - 15 mg
Women - 12 mg
Children - 10 mg

Zinc is needed to transport vitamin A to the retina. Almost all the enzymes in the body require zinc for their functioning. It has long been known that growth and sexual maturity depend on zinc amongst other things. Zinc seems to offer new promise of help for acne patients and it has been shown to provide dramatic results in some cases. Zinc is very important in maintaining the overall health of the body, it promotes cell reproduction, and tissue growth/repair which makes it very important in maintaining the body throughout life. It is essential in sustaining our immune system, and it serves as a precursor to hormones (insulin), genetic material, proteins and is a part of more than 70 enzymes and their subsequent chemical reactions. Zinc also helps to maintain the taste buds, it speeds wound healing and it increases sperm production.

Some recent research validates in a way, the old folk lore of eating foods high in Zinc (i.e. oysters) and their effect on sex drive. A study on elderly men, supported by US National Institutes of Health, showed that there is a relationship between serum zinc concentrations and serum testosterone. Men over 50 years old in this study who were marginally zinc deficient were supplemented with 30 mg zinc per day for six months. This resulted in a significant increase in serum testosterone. This indicates that zinc plays an important role in modulating serum testosterone levels in normal men. However, there are always two sides to the coin, when taking these kinds of products. It is good to supplement, but remember just because taking one is good doesn’t mean that taking six is better. Taking too much zinc can actually impair immunity and can interfere with copper absorption. Excessive intake of zinc can cause loss of iron and copper in the body. †

REFERENCES:

1. Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. National Academy Press. Washington, DC, 2001.
2. Solomons NW. Mild human zinc deficiency produces an imbalance between cell-mediated and humoral immunity. Nutr Rev 1998; 56:27-28.
3. Simmer K and Thompson RP. Zinc in the fetus and newborn. Acta Paediatr Scand Suppl 1985;319:158-163.
4. Fabris N and Mocchegiani E. Zinc, human diseases and aging. Aging (Milano) 1995; 7:77-93.