What Are the Benefits of a Zinc Supplement?

Zinc is a common trace mineral found in the body, and it is present inside every cell. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it is available from foods you eat, and since the body doesn't need a great deal of zinc to function properly (8 to 11mg daily for adults), eating a healthy diet and taking a zinc supplement should provide more than enough. If you don't have a diet rich in zinc-containing foods, such as meats, dairy and whole grains, you may wish to add a zinc supplement to your daily routine, as zinc provides many health benefits.

Immune System Builder

If the body is deficient in zinc, the immune system cannot function properly. According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements (NIH ODS), a lack of zinc can interfere the immune system's response to infections within the body, leading to an increased risk of developing pneumonia or infectious diseases. Zinc supplements are also used when a cold or flu strikes, to help shorten the duration, and the severity of symptoms.

Eye Health Protector

Zinc plays an important role in eye health. In the June 2009 issue of the "New Zealand Medical Journal," reports that AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study Group) found that supplementing with high doses of vitamins and minerals, including zinc, can prevent the onset of diseases of the eye that occur with age, such as macular degeneration. In macular degeneration, the macula (area of the retina that controls central vision), starts to break down. The AREDS study states that taking zinc can slow the progress of the breakdown of the macula. To achieve the amount of zinc that AREDS states is necessary in the body for eye health, one must supplement their intake, along with vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and eating a healthy diet.

Wound Healer

The NIH ODS reports that skin ulcers and wounds are often treated with zinc supplements. Part of the reason for its efficiency as a wound healer is that zinc helps maintain the health of the skin and mucous membranes.

More Zinc Benefits

There are other benefits associated with zinc supplementation, although there are not a lot of concrete medical studies that prove the effectiveness of zinc in these conditions. According to the UMMC, some of the conditions that benefit from zinc supplementation are acne, stomach ulcers and sickle cell disease. It is also reported that taking zinc can cause an improvement in ADHD symptoms, such as decreased hyperactivity, and that those with HIV who take zinc are found to develop fewer infections and a healthier immune system.