While zinc deficiencies are not common in North America, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements, the condition does have a range of negative side affects associated with it. Some studies suggest that zinc can affect the prostate, but in general, there's not enough evidence to definitively support a connection between enlarged prostates and a zinc deficiency. You should consult a physician if you're experiencing an enlarged prostate or believe you have a zinc deficiency.
Zinc
Your body uses zinc for many tasks, such as maintaining your immune system, synthesizing proteins and healing wounds. The mineral exists naturally in the earth and gets absorbed by some plants. You get zinc by eating those plants or the animals that eat them. While you typically get enough zinc from eating foods such as various kinds of sea food, meats, chicken, nuts and beans, you can also use multivitamins or other dietary supplements if you're not getting enough from your diet.
Zinc Deficiency
A zinc deficiency can cause significant health problems. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, not getting enough zinc when young can result in growth retardation and delayed sexual maturation, as well as loss of appetite and reduced immune system effectiveness. More serious deficiencies can result in hair loss, weight loss, impotence, taste abnormalities, eye and skin lesions and lethargy. An enlarged prostate gland is not widely associated with a zinc deficiency, though it may be possible.
Zinc and Prostate Cancer
While a zinc deficiency does not appear to cause an enlarged prostate, zinc appears to play a key role in prostate health. According to Emily Ho, Ph.D., and Michelle Yan of Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute, your prostate accumulates the largest amount of zinc out of any soft tissue in your body, and the prostates of people with prostate cancer have much less zinc than normal. Though the relationship between zinc and prostate cancer isn't clear, there is a possibility that a zinc deficiency may lead to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
Enlarged Prostate
An enlarged prostate gland can occur for a variety of reasons. According to MayoClinic.com, the male prostate gland naturally grows as you get older, with about half of the men older than age 60 experiencing symptoms of an enlarged prostate. You may also be at a higher risk of an enlarged prostate if you have a family history of prostate problems or if you are a white or black man. Talk to a physician if you're experiencing an enlarged prostate, zinc deficiency or need medical advice.
Other Considerations
A 2011 study published in the "Indian Journal of Urology" showed that zinc may be related to an increased prostate size, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. The study reports that men with enlarged prostates had a significant decrease in the amount of zinc present in their prostate. Whether this lack of zinc and enlargement of the prostate are causally related is unknown, and more research is needed.
