Following on from our Wednesday Product Focus Call, here are the key benefits of the mineral - Zinc, as found in our C+Zinc.

As we were discussing on Wednesday, zinc is an essential mineral that is found in every cell in our body. It stimulates the activity of some 80 enzymes (these are substances that promote biochemical reactions in your body). Among its many functions, zinc helps maintain a healthy immune system, is needed for wound healing, helps maintain your sense of taste and smell, and is needed for DNA synthesis. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence, and helps sperm develop and is needed for ovulation and fertilization.

Zinc gluconate can help shorten the length of a cold. Other forms of zinc work well, but if you're trying to prevent a cold, researchers suggest using zinc gluconate.

Zinc deficiency most often happens when its intake is inadequate or it is poorly absorbed, when there are increased losses of zinc from the body, or when the body's requirement for zinc increases. Zinc deficiency manifests as growth retardation, hair loss, diarrhea, delayed maturation and impotence, eye and skin lesions, and loss of appetite.

Weight loss, delayed healing of wounds, taste abnormalities, and mental lethargy can also occur with zinc deficiency. Since many of these symptoms are general and are associated with other medical conditions, do not assume they are due to a zinc deficiency without consulting your doctor.

Risk factors for zinc deficiency include: inadequate caloric intake, alcoholism, and digestive diseases. Vegetarians may need as much as 50% more zinc than non-vegetarians because of the lower absorption of zinc from plant foods, so they need to either have good sources of zinc in their diet or make sure they take supplements.

Maternal zinc deficiency can slow fetal growth. Growth rate improves in children with mild to moderate growth failure and who also have a zinc deficiency when given zinc. Human milk does not have enough zinc for older infants between the ages of 7 months and 12 months, so breast-fed infants of this age should also consume age-appropriate foods containing zinc or be given formula containing zinc or zinc supplementation.

Breastfeeding also may deplete maternal zinc stores because of the greater need for zinc during lactation. So include good sources of zinc in your daily diet if you are breast-feeding.

30% to 50% of alcoholics are zinc deficient. Alcohol decreases the absorption of zinc and increases loss of zinc in urine. Further, many alcoholics do not eat an acceptable variety or amount of food, so their dietary intake of zinc may be inadequate.

Diarrhea causes zinc loss. Those who have had gastrointestinal surgery or who have digestive disorders that result in malabsorption, such as sprue, Crohn's disease and short bowel syndrome, may lack zinc. Again, the VitaMist C+Zinc is the best way to make sure you are getting the zinc you need.

Zinc deficiency compromises your immune system. Zinc is required for the development and activation of T-lymphocytes, a kind of white blood cell that helps fight infection. When zinc supplements are given to individuals with low zinc levels, the numbers of T-cell lymphocytes circulating in the blood increase and the ability of lymphocytes to fight infection improves dramatically.

Some researchers have questioned the effect of iron fortification, to prevent iron-deficiency anemia, on absorption of other nutrients, including zinc. Fortification of foods with iron does not significantly affect zinc absorption. However, large amounts of iron in supplements (greater than 25 mg) may decrease zinc absorption, as can iron in solutions. Taking iron supplements between meals will help decrease its effect on zinc absorption, but caution must be used as the body has a maximum level of daily iron intake before it becomes toxic.

Zinc toxicity has been seen in both acute and chronic forms. Intakes of 150 to 450 mg of zinc per day have been associated with low copper status, altered iron function, reduced immune function, and reduced levels of high-density lipoproteins (the good cholesterol), so be sure to keep your zinc intake below these levels.


Remember, as we discussed on Wednesday, our Core 4 is the foundation of good health and nutrition.



References

1. Sandstead HH. Understanding zinc: Recent observations and interpretations. J Lab Clin Med 1994;124:322-327.

2. 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.

3. Solomons NW. Mild human zinc deficiency produces an imbalance between cell-mediated and humoral immunity. Nutr Rev 1998;56:27-28.

4. Prasad AS. Zinc: An overview. Nutrition 1995;11:93-99.

5. Heyneman CA. Zinc deficiency and taste disorders. Ann Pharmacother 1996;30:186-187.





Sincerely,

Dr. Spray



VitaMist Spray Vitamins

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