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LE Magazine December 2006

Zinc

An Indispensable Element That Boosts the Body’s Natural Defenses By Dale Kiefer

Mild Zinc Deficiency “Common” in the US

Zinc deficiency affects more than 2 billion people in both developing and developed nations.49 Moreover, zinc and iron deficits often go hand in hand.

A diet lacking adequate sources of bioavailable zinc (such as red meat) and high in dietary fiber (vegetarian or grain-based diets) carries a double risk of zinc deficiency. Certain dietary fibers, calcium, and phytates (present in cereal products, legumes, and nuts) effectively block zinc absorption, while lack of beef (the richest natural source of zinc) leads to an inadequate dietary supply of this essential nutrient. Because beef is also the best source of bioavailable iron (except for certain artificially fortified foods), low zinc and low iron often occur simultaneously. Low iron in the bloodstream leads to iron-deficiency anemia, characterized by listlessness in adults and physical and neurological abnormalities in young children.50,51

According to University of Texas researcher Harold Sandstead, data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) suggest that “mild [zinc] deficiency is . . . common in the US.”52 It may well be important, therefore, to supplement one’s diet with zinc on a daily basis. The Institute of Medicine has established a zinc RDA value for men of 11 mg/day. For women, the RDA ranges from 8 mg/day for healthy adult women to 14 mg/day for lactating women. Alcoholism and chronic diarrhea may seriously deplete zinc stores, and evidence suggests that the elderly suffer zinc deficiency more commonly than younger adults.53

Long-term supplementation with high levels of zinc may deplete copper levels.54 Thus, individuals supplementing with zinc may need to supplement concomitantly with copper.

Zinc Deficiency Threatens Developing Nations

Zinc’s value extends far beyond its ability to boost antioxidant defenses, strengthen immunity, and relieve cold symptoms. Particularly in developing nations, ensuring adequate zinc intake may be a matter of life or death, particularly for children.

Infectious pathogens associated with contaminated water, such as typhoid fever and cholera, are endemic in developing nations, where they cause dangerously dehydrating diarrhea. Children are at special risk. In countries where zinc is often deficient in the diet, zinc supplementation has been shown to reduce infant mortality and decrease susceptibility to pneumonia, diarrhea, skin infections, and fever.31-33 In fact, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund have endorsed zinc supplementation as a cost-effective treatment for diarrhea, which may be life threatening to vulnerable children.

Scientists in India recently noted that “a large section of the world population is at risk of developing zinc deficiency.”34 Traceable to inadequate zinc content in the soil and a diet heavily reliant on cereals and grains, zinc deficiency is believed to be responsible for a variety of ailments. According to the Indian scientists, “Zinc deficiency in children results in stunting, underweight, and increased risk of infections like diarrhea and pneumonia.”34 One researcher noted that infant mortality is significantly reduced when zinc supplements are given to low-birth-weight babies for one year, adding that “zinc deficiency may have adverse effects on physical growth and neurodevelopment.”35

Conclusion

Zinc Promotes Healthy Skin in Children

Infants and children are prone to developing dermatitis, an itchy, inflammatory skin condition. When zinc was orally administered to zinc-deficient infants suffering from dermatitis, all experienced a resolution of their symptoms.48

Overwhelming scientific evidence from around the world underscores the critical importance of zinc to human health. Given this preponderance of evidence indicating zinc’s utter indispensability to health—and the widespread prevalence of zinc deficiency—it is prudent to include this potent micronutrient in one’s daily vitamin/mineral regimen.

References

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11. Raqib R, Roy SK, Rahman MJ, et al. Effect of zinc supplementation on immune and inflammatory responses in pediatric patients with shigellosis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Mar;79(3):444-50.

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13. Field CJ, Johnson IR, Schley PD. Nutrients and their role in host resistance to infection. J Leukoc Biol. 2002 Jan;71(1):16-32.

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22. Fong LY, Zhang L, Jiang Y, Farber JL. Dietary zinc modulation of COX-2 expression and lingual and esophageal carcinogenesis in rats. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005 Jan 5;97(1):40-50.

23. Mossad SB, Macknin ML, Medendorp SV, Mason P. Zinc gluconate lozenges for treating the common cold. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Ann Intern Med. 1996 Jul 15;125(2):81-8.

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27. McElroy BH, Miller SP. An open-label, single-center, phase IV clinical study of the effectiveness of zinc gluconate glycine lozenges (Cold-Eeze) in reducing the duration and symptoms of the common cold in school-aged subjects. Am J Ther. 2003 Sep;10(5):324-9.

28. McElroy BH, Miller SP. Effectiveness of zinc gluconate glycine lozenges (Cold-Eeze) against the common cold in school-aged subjects: a retrospective chart review. Am J Ther. 2002 Nov;9(6):472-5.

29. Prasad AS, Fitzgerald JT, Bao B, Beck FW, Chandrasekar PH. Duration of symptoms and plasma cytokine levels in patients with the common cold treated with zinc acetate. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2000 Aug 15;133(4):245-52.

30. Suara RO, Crowe JE, Jr. Effect of zinc salts on respiratory syncytial virus replication. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2004 Mar;48(3):783-90.

31. Osendarp SJ, West CE, Black RE. The need for maternal zinc supplementation in developing countries: an unresolved issue. J Nutr. 2003 Mar;133(3):817S-27S.

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34. Sinha R. National seminar on importance of zinc in human health. Indian Pediatr. 2004 Dec;41(12):1213-7.

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36. Salgueiro MJ, Weill R, Zubillaga M, et al. Zinc deficiency and growth: current concepts in relationship to two important points: intellectual and sexual development. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2004;99(1-3):49-69.

37. Wasantwisut E. Nutrition and development: other micronutrients’ effect on growth and cognition. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1997;28 Suppl 278-82.

38. Wagner PA, Bailey LB, Christakis GJ, Dinning JS. Serum zinc concentrations in adolescents as related to sexual maturation. Hum Nutr Clin Nutr. 1985 Nov;39(6):459-62.

39. Gibson RS, Heath AL, Ferguson EL. Risk of suboptimal iron and zinc nutriture among adolescent girls in Australia and New Zealand: causes, consequences, and solutions. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2002;11 Suppl 3S543-52.

40. Golub MS, Takeuchi PT, Keen CL, Hendrickx AG, Gershwin ME. Activity and attention in zinc-deprived adolescent monkeys. Am J Clin Nutr. 1996 Dec;64(6):908-15.

41. Golub MS, Keen CL, Gershwin ME, et al. Adolescent growth and maturation in zinc-deprived rhesus monkeys [see comment]. Am J Clin Nutr. 1996 Sep;64(3):274-82.

42. Brown KH, Peerson JM, Rivera J, Allen LH. Effect of supplemental zinc on the growth and serum zinc concentrations of prepubertal children: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Jun;75(6):1062-71.

43. Imamoglu S, Bereket A, Turan S, Taga Y, Haklar G. Effect of zinc supplementation on growth hormone secretion, IGF-I, IGFBP-3, somatomedin generation, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and growth in prepubertal children with idiopathic short stature. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Jan;18(1):69-74.

44. Henkel R, Bittner J, Weber R, Huther F, Miska W. Relevance of zinc in human sperm flagella and its relation to motility. Fertil Steril. 1999 Jun;71(6):1138-43.

45. Mohan H, Verma J, Singh I, et al. Inter-relationship of zinc levels in serum and semen in oligospermic infertile patients and fertile males. Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 1997 Oct;40(4):451-5.

46. Chia SE, Ong CN, Chua LH, Ho LM, Tay SK. Comparison of zinc concentrations in blood and seminal plasma and the various sperm parameters between fertile and infertile men. J Androl. 2000 Jan;21(1):53-7.

47. Robak-Cholubek D, Jakiel G, Bakalczuk S, Bokiniec M. Zinc levels in seminal plasma and sperm density. Ginekol Pol. 1998 Jun;69(6):490-3.

48. Kienast A, Roth B, Bossier C, Hojabri C, Hoeger PH. Zinc-deficiency dermatitis in breast-fed infants. Eur J Pediatr. 2006 Sep 8; [Epub ahead of print].

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50. Castejon HV, Ortega P, Amaya D, et al. Co-existence of anemia, vitamin A deficiency and growth retardation among children 24-84 months old in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Nutr Neurosci. 2004 Apr;7(2):113-9.

51. Zlotkin SH, Christofides AL, Hyder SM, et al. Controlling iron deficiency anemia through the use of home-fortified complementary foods. Indian J Pediatr. 2004 Nov;71(11):1015-9.

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53. Available at: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/cc/zinc.html#rda. Accessed September 26, 2006.

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