Although calcium is perhaps the most well-known nutrient needed for healthy bones, other minerals, like zinc, are equally important. Proper nutrition is especially important for children, whose bones are still growing. According to the American College of Sports Medicine's website, osteoporosis is now considered a pediatric disorder that manifests in old age. Talk to your child's doctor about his nutrition intake and how much zinc he should be getting.
Bone Formation
The body uses three types of cells to build, breakdown, and maintain bone: osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteocytes. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, or IOF, osteoblasts are responsible for the formation of bone, while osteoclasts are involved in bone resorption, or breakdown. Osteocytes are actually osteoblasts that become calcified bone. Endocrineweb.com states that bone grows rapidly during development of a fetus and infant, with growth slowing down until adolescence. Adolescence, which begins after age 11 in girls and occurs slightly later in boys, is characterized by rapid bone and muscle growth. Hormones play a large role in this process, but adolescents also need adequate levels of specific vitamins and minerals for healthy skeletal growth.
Zinc and Bone
Zinc is listed as an important mineral in bone health. The IOF states that it regulates the function of an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase, which is responsible for the mineralization of bone. Without mineralization, the bone matrix, or osteoid, cannot properly form. Zinc also helps in the formation of collagenase, according to a review in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition" in November of 2000. Collagenase is essential for the collagenous structure of bone; the bone matrix is made up, in part, of organic matter that consists of collagen fibers woven together.
Zinc Deficiency
Low levels of zinc can contribute to poor bone formation. Although most studies have been performed on older patient populations, because bone health is thought to begin at an early age, zinc deficiency can pertain to younger people, as well. Zinc deficiency can lead to impaired DNA synthesis and protein metabolism, both of which can impact bone formation. A study published in March 1990 in the "Journal of Bone and Mineral Research" found that among women with osteoporosis, most had high levels of zinc excretion through the urine. Researchers concluded that supplementation with zinc may be helpful in preventing bone loss.
Dietary Sources
Zinc is available in the foods your child eats; thus, malnutrition is a major contributor to zinc deficiency. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, your body receives 20 to 40 percent of its zinc from the food you eat. That means most of your child's zinc intake can be gained through food alone. Although your kids may not like oysters, which happen to be the richest source of zinc, red meats, poultry, cheese, shrimp, crab, legumes, miso, tofu, cooked greens, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds all contain zinc. Talk to your child's doctor about their his nutritional intake to be sure he is getting enough vitamins and minerals from his diet.
Adolescent Dosing
If your child's doctor recommends taking an additional zinc supplement, UMMC recommends taking it with juice, water, or food, as it can cause stomach upset. Zinc should not be taken at the same time as calcium or iron supplements. In children ages nine to 13, UMMC states that 8 mg per day is the recommended daily allowance. For boys between 14 and 18, 11 mg is adequate, while girls in the same age group only need 9 mg per day.
References
- American College of Sports Medicine
- International Osteoporosis Foundation: Bone Formation
- Endocrineweb: Osteoporosis
- "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"; Nutrition in bone health revisited: a story beyond calcium; J.Z. Ilich and J.E. Kerstetter; November 2000
- "Journal of Bone and Mineral Research"; Zinc excretion in osteoporotic women; M. Herzberg; March 1990
