The prostate is a gland in men that produces semen and surrounds the urethra, a tube that excretes urine from the body. Prostate problems are common, especially as men get older, and include enlarged prostate, infections and cancer. Zinc is a trace mineral that stimulates the immune system and may reduce the risk of prostate conditions. There are different types of zinc that scientists have studied for certain prostate conditions.
Zinc Absorption
Food is the best source of zinc. The human body absorbs between 20 to 40 percent of zinc found in food. Absorption of zinc is highest when eating a protein meal. Animal products provide a higher percent absorption than plant-based foods. With regards to dietary supplements, zinc is available in several forms, including zinc sulfate, zinc picolinate, zinc citrate, zinc acetate, zinc glycerate, zinc monomethionine, zinc oxide and zinc gluconate. Zinc sulfate is the least expensive type, but is also the least easily absorbed and it may cause side effects which include an upset stomach. In a comparison study published in "Agents and Actions" in June 1987, scientists found humans absorb higher amounts of zinc from zinc picolinate than from zinc citrate or zinc gluconate.
Prostate Cancer
Zinc plays a vital role in maintaining prostate health, particularly in protecting DNA from damage and reducing your risk of prostate cancer, yet scientists do not know the precise mechanism of action against cancer. The normal human prostate has the highest concentration of zinc in the body, whereas cancerous prostates contain less zinc than normal prostates. A dietary deficiency of zinc increases your risk of prostate cancer. Increasing dietary zinc may decrease your risk of developing prostate cancer. To prevent problems associated with zinc absorption, scientists at Saint Louis University in Missouri tested the effects of injecting zinc acetate into prostate tumors and found that the mineral supplement halted the growth of cancer, according to research published in the "Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research" in 2009.
Excess Zinc
Excessive amounts of zinc supplements may increase your risk of prostate disease. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland report that compared with nonusers, men who take 100mg per day or more of zinc have more than a twofold increased risk of developing prostate cancer, according to research published in the "Journal of the National Cancer Institute" in July 2003. However, the scientists did not distinguish the types of zinc used by the individuals studied.
Enlarged Prostate
There are no published clinical studies on orally administrated zinc for enlarged prostate. However, there is a study on the effects of zinc sulphate injection. Scientists at the University Medical College in Seoul, South Korea found that injections of zinc sulphate inhibited bacterial growth associated with inflammation in an enlarged prostate, according to research published in the "International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents" in June 2002.
References
- MedlinePlus: Prostate Diseases
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Zinc; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; December 2003
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Zinc
- "Agents and Actions"; Comparative Absorption of Zinc Picolinate, Zinc Citrate and Zinc Gluconate in Humans; S.A. Barrie, et al.; June 1987
- Linus Pauling Institute; Zinc and Prostate Cancer; Emily Ho and Michelle Yan; Summer 2005
- "Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research"; Direct Intra-Tumoral Injection of Zinc-Acetate Halts Tumor Growth in a Xenograft Model of Prostate Cancer; Maulik Shah, et al.; 2009
