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An essential element vital to both human and animal nutrition, zinc is important to an extensive scale of biological functions. More than 200 zinc metalloenzymes have been identified in the biological systems of the body. These enzymes are intricately involved with the production of energy, and the metabolism of both proteins and nucleic acids. Zinc has been found to play regulatory, structural, or catalytic roles in these zinc metalloenzymes and is important to the structure of “zinc fingers”, which are dominated by transcription factors that interact with DNA and regulate the activity of genes. In addition, zinc plays an important part in sustaining the integrity of biological membranes. Zinc supplements protect the membranes against oxidative injury, and other damaging effects.
From a physiological standpoint, zinc is necessary for proper development and growth, gustatory and olfactory activity, dark vision adaptation, insulin storage and release, sexual maturation and reproduction, a variety of host immune defenses, and more. Those deficient in zinc my experience weight loss, anorexia, an increased incidence of infections, diarrhea, immune dysfunction, delayed wound healing, oligospermia, mental lethargy, hypogonadism, growth retardation, skin changes, increased risk for abortion, neural tube defects of the fetus, and alopecia.
Zinc has been used in connection with the following conditions:
- Acrodermatitis enteropathica
- Acne
- Childhood intelligence (for deficiency)
- Down’s syndrome
- Common cold/sore throat (as lozenges)
- Wound healing (oral and topical)
- Infertility (male) (for deficiency)
- Wilson’s disease
- Night blindness (for deficiency)
Dosage and Administration
Zinc is available in a variety of forms including zinc aspartate, zinc gluconate, zinc citrate, zinc histidine, zinc oxide, zinc monomethionine, and zinc picolinate. Supplamental zinc comes in both combination and stand-alone products. A daily dose of zinc typically equals about 15 milligrams.
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