Zinc plays a vital role in numerous bodily functions, including immunity and wound healing, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. A wound or ulcer on your leg that is slow to heal may indicate a zinc deficiency. Speak to your doctor or health care provider about zinc supplementation if you are prone to leg wounds or recurrent leg ulcers.
Deficiency
The recommended adult daily zinc intake ranges between eight and 11 mg per day; pregnant and lactating women require 11 to 13 mg per day. A deficiency in zinc manifests other symptoms besides slow leg healing, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. These include skin rashes, persistent and acute diarrhea, loss of appetite, night blindness and impaired sense of taste.
Research
In 2007 researchers from the faculty of medicine at the Imperial College London detailed the role of zinc in the treatment of zinc deficient leg ulcer patients. The researchers demonstrated that zinc facilitates auto-debridement -- the disintegration of dead tissue by the white blood cells during the healing process. Zinc also serves an antioxidant function in the wound, protects against invasive bacteria and imparts resistance to the immune system response. This review appeared in the January issue of the journal "Wound Repair and Regeneration."
Sources
Good dietary sources of zinc include beef, pork, crab, lobster, eggs, chicken, turkey and dairy products such as yogurt, cheese and milk. Vegetarians may need to supplement zinc, given that many plants contains phytates -- chemical compounds that interfere with the body's ability to properly absorb zinc -- according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Fortified breakfast cereals, cashews, almonds, chickpeas and baked beans provide good sources of zinc for vegetarians.
Complications
Recurrent leg wounds or leg ulcers that take a long time to heal may indicate deeper health issues besides a zinc deficiency, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Chronic conditions related to leg wounds and ulcers that happen again and again include diabetes, blood clots, poor circulation, venous insufficiency, hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, kidney problems, fluid buildup in the legs or feet and cancerous tumors. Cellulitis, a serious bacterial infection of the skin, can also occur, and this condition can be fatal. Seek medical advice if you experience recurring, slow healing leg wounds.
References
- Cleveland Clinic; Diseases & Conditions; Lower Extremity (Leg and Foot) Ulcers; November 2010
- National Institutes of Health; Office of Dietary Supplements; Zinc; June 2011
- Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute; Zinc; Jane Higdon, Ph.D., et al.; February 2008
- "Wound Repair and Regeneration"; Zinc in Wound Healing: Theoretical, Experimental, and Clinical Aspects; A.B. Lansdown, et al.; January 2007
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Cellulitis; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; June 2010
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