What Are The Benefits Of Zinc?

Next to iron, zinc is the most common trace mineral in your body and it is found in every single bodily cell. Trace minerals, such as zinc and iron, are minerals that are required for health but only needed in trace amounts. Zinc has antioxidant properties, and helps to protect cells from free-radicals.

Zinc Basics

Free radicals contribute to aging and the development of numerous health problems, including heart disease and cancer. Zinc may help reduce or prevent cell damage caused by free radicals by neutralizing them, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Zinc is found in foods such as meat, fish, poultry, legumes and whole grains. For therapeutic purposes, it is often taken in high doses as a supplement and can be found as a tablet, capsule or lozenge. It is also found as a cream for topical use to promote wound healing.

List of Benefits

Zinc has been used for centuries to help heal wounds and it plays an important role in immunity, reproduction, growth, taste, vision, smell, blood clotting and proper insulin and thyroid function. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center says that zinc enhances bone formation and is purported to help prevent cancer. Zinc is also used as a dietary supplement to treat acne, aged-related macular degeneration, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cystic fibrosis, diarrhea, diabetes, herpes, HIV and AIDs, rheumatoid arthritis, sickle-cell disease, stomach ulcers, tinnitus, warts and male infertility. MSKCC warns, however, that there is not yet enough scientific evidence to support the use of zinc supplements for these purposes.

Immune Support

Zinc is necessary for a healthy immune system and people who are deficient in zinc are more susceptible to a variety of infections. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that some people take zinc to boost their immune systems, but more research needs to be done to confirm if zinc supplementation is useful to individuals who do not have a preexisting zinc deficiency. Zinc has antiviral properties and is often used both topically and internally to help prevent and treat herpes infections. Zinc lozenges are often taken to reduce symptoms associated with the common cold. MSKCC reports that studies done on zinc lozenges have shown mixed results, but over 15 clinical trials have found that taking a zinc supplement within 24 hours of the onset of a cold can reduce both the duration and the severity of cold symptoms.

Precautions

Symptoms of a zinc deficiency may include loss of appetite, poor growth, weight loss, lack of taste or smell, poor wound healing, skin problems, hair loss and white spots on the finger nails. Zinc may interact negatively with medication such as blood pressure drugs and antibiotics. It may also cause unwanted side effects such as stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, drowsiness and increased sweating. UMMC says that a serious zinc deficiency is rare in North America and you should talk to your health care practitioner before supplementing with zinc.