Zinc

See also : Zincum Metallicum (homeopathy)
Other Names: Acétate de Zinc, Acexamate de Zinc, Aspartate de Zinc, Atomic Number 30, Chlorure de Zinc, Citrate de Zinc, Gluconate de Zinc, Méthionine de Zinc, Monométhionine de Zinc, Numéro Atomique 30, Orotate de Zinc, Oxyde de Zinc, Picolinate de Zinc, Pyrithione de Zinc, Sulfate de Zinc, Zinc Acetate, Zinc Acexamate, Zinc Aspartate, Zinc Chloride, Zinc Citrate, Zinc Difumarate Hydrate, Zinc Gluconate, Zinc Methionine, Zinc Monomethionine, Zinc Murakab, Zinc Orotate, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Picolinate, Zinc Pyrithione, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Sulphate, Zincum Aceticum, Zincum Gluconicum, Zincum Metallicum, Zincum Valerianicum, Zn.
Zinc is a metal. It is called an “essential trace element” because very small amounts of zinc are necessary for human health.

Special Precautions of Zinc

• Zinc is LIKELY SAFE for most adults when applied to the skin, or when taken by mouth in amounts not larger than 40 mg per day. Routine zinc supplementation is not recommended without the advice of a healthcare professional. In some people, zinc might cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, metallic taste, kidney and stomach damage, and other side effects. Using zinc on broken skin may cause burning, stinging, itching, and tingling.
• Taking high amounts of zinc is LIKELY UNSAFE. High doses above the recommended amounts might cause fever, coughing, stomach pain, fatigue, and many other problems.
• Taking more than 100 mg of supplemental zinc daily or taking supplemental zinc for 10 or more years doubles the risk of developing prostate cancer. There is also concern that taking large amounts of a multivitamin plus a separate zinc supplement increases the chance of dying from prostate cancer.
• Taking 450 mg or more of zinc daily can cause problems with blood iron. Single doses of 10-30 grams of zinc can be fatal. Studies have indicated that increased zinc levels lead to a drop in serum ferritin concentrations—an indicator of low iron levels. It's important to monitor your iron intake while supplementing with zinc.
• Too much zinc has also been linked to copper deficiency—a condition that leads to health issues such as too much T4 hormone in the blood stream, which then activates an over-stimulated thyroid.
• Zinc nose sprays (Zicam, Cold-Eeze) are POSSIBLY UNSAFE. These products may cause loss of ability to smell. In June 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers not to use certain zinc-containing nose sprays (Zicam) after receiving over 100 reports of loss of smell. The maker of these zinc-containing nose sprays has also received several hundred reports of loss of smell from people who had used the products. Avoid using zinc nose sprays.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Zinc is LIKELY SAFE for most pregnant and breast-feeding women when used in the recommended daily amounts (RDA). Pregnant women over 18 should not take more than 40 mg of zinc per day; pregnant women age 14 to 18 should not take more than 34 mg per day. Breast-feeding women over 18 should not take more than 40 mg of zinc per day; breast-feeding women age 14 to 18 should not take more than 34 mg per day.
• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)/AIDS: Do not take zinc if you have HIV/AIDS. Zinc might shorten your life.
• Note that many zinc products also contain another metal called cadmium. This is because zinc and cadmium are chemically similar and often occur together in nature. Exposure to high levels of cadmium over a long time can lead to kidney failure. The concentration of cadmium in zinc-containing supplements can vary as much as 37-fold. Look for zinc-gluconate products. Zinc gluconate consistently contains the lowest cadmium levels.
• Antibiotics (Quinolone antibiotics) interacts with ZINC
• Cisplatin (Platinol-AQ) interacts with ZINC
• Penicillamine interacts with ZINC

The benefits of Zinc are

Zinc is the second most important trace mineral in the body, surpassed only by iron. It plays an important role in immune function, wound healing, blood clotting, reproduction, growth and smell. Zinc deficiency is characterized by poor wound healing, loss of appetite, weight loss and white marks on the fingernails.

• Reducing diarrhea in malnourished children, or in children who have low zinc levels. Severe zinc deficiency in children is common in developing countries.
• Treating Wilson's Disease, a rare genetic disorder.
• prostate cancer. This mineral is necessary for the formation of RNA and DNA and a healthy immune system. And, you guessed it: a healthy immune system is better able to kill cancer cells. Zinc is vital for prostate health and for male hormone activity. You need zinc to produce sperm and semen. There's more zinc in your prostate gland than any other part of your body.
• Zinc supplementation or dietary intake (from milk, for instance) can help reduce feelings of anger, hostility, and depression
• lowers systemic inflammation and promotes optimal immune health
• Digestion : Many people are unaware of the important role zinc plays in healthy digestion. An essential mineral for the production of digestive enzymes, zinc is one of the primary catalysts by which the body processes nutrients. Zinc is also a critical component in the renewal of regrowth of intestinal tissue, as well as the production of digestive bile and secretions of both the liver and pancreas.
• Thyroid function : zinc plays an essential role in thyroid hormone function. In fact, without the presence of zinc, the thyroid gland cannot transform the inactive hormone T4 into the active hormone T3. Furthermore, the hypothalamus also requires zinc to make the hormone it uses to signal the pituitary gland to activate the thyroid.
• protect the brain from copper toxicity.
• Enlarged Prostate : Ignoring the signs of an enlarged prostate (BPH) can lead to kidney and bladder problems—not to mention prostate cancer. Even the less serious problems—like frequent or painful urination—can be a serious inconvenience. Protect your prostate now to avoid problems later. And zinc is a great place to start. Not having enough can cause DNA damage in prostate cells. But high levels of zinc can promote cell death in BPH cells. This helps shrink your prostate gland down to a normal size, helping to alleviate and even prevent BPH symptoms.
• Preserve Hearing: Research shows that zinc’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects can help fight hearing loss. Having higher levels can improve the quality of hearing in people with sudden hearing loss. Another study found taking 50 mg a day for eight weeks reduces buzzing or ringing in the ears. It may very well work for you or someone you know: It’s effective in 82% of people.
• Testosterone Booster : After you turn 30, your testosterone (T) levels can drop by about one percent per year. By the time you’re in your 60s, your levels could be more than 30% lower. But getting enough can help you prevent T loss. One study found that restricting dietary zinc in healthy young men decreased their normal levels of T by almost 30%. That same study shows that older men taking a supplement can increase the amount of T in their blood by 50%. And this was without any changes to their normal diet, exercise routine, or lifestyle.
• Build Stronger Bones in Women: Men aren’t the only ones who can benefit from taking zinc. Women may need it even more. Zinc helps prevent bone disease. Women with osteoporosis usually have lower levels of zinc. One study found that postmenopausal women taking a supplement helped slow their bone loss by 66%. Even more impressive is what happens when they added zinc to calcium, manganese, and copper supplementation. It helped these women increase their bone mineral density by 28% in two years.
• Prevent Heart Disease: One study found that low levels of zinc can increase heart event risk by almost 40% in people with type 2 diabetes. Even if you take diabetes out of the picture, zinc is can still support your heart health. It helps regulate heartbeat and function. Depriving your heart of zinc can put you at risk for heart disease—or worse.

Getting enough of this important mineral can have tremendous benefits for your overall health—especially as you age. The best way to give your body the zinc it needs is through your diet. Oysters pack a huge dose. You’ll also get it from grass-fed beef, spinach, asparagus, pumpkin seeds, and shiitake mushrooms. In addition, you can find a quality, food-derived supplement in health food stores and online.

Food Sources

Whole Food Sources	Serving	Zinc (mg)
Seafood (Cooked Oysters)	3 oz	66.8
Organic Beef	3 ounces	5.80
Beef Liver, cooked	100 grams	5.24
Wheat Germ	1 cup	18.8
Lima Beans	1 cup	3.60
Pumpkin Seeds	1 cup	6.60
Squash Seeds	1 cup	6.60
Organic / Wild Turkey, cooked	3 ounces	3.50
Chickpeas	1 cup	2.60
Split Peas, cooked	1 cup	1.96
Cashews, raw	1 ounce	1.60
Pecans, raw	1 ounce	1.28
Spinach	1 cup (Cooked)	1.4
Green peas, cooked	1 cup	1.08
Almonds, raw	1 ounce	1.00
Organic egg, poached	1 large	0.55
Ginger root, raw	1 teaspoon	0.34
Cocoa and Chocolate	1 cup	5.9
Mushrooms (Cooked White)	1 cup	1.4