Specials

Health Encyclopedia

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Zinc

Zinc is an essential trace element (a micromineral).

Zinc is used for the treatment of these conditons:

Acne:

Most acne sufferers have been found to have low levels of zinc. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated that supplemental oral zinc is an effective treatment for acne and these trials indicate that approximately 80% of acne patients are satisfied with the results of zinc therapy for their acne.

Topical application of zinc cream or ointment reduces the inflammation associated with acne and reduces the production of sebum that causes the clogging of pores in acne patients.

Results using oral zinc therapy for the treatment of acne usually become apparent with three months of daily zinc supplementation.

Anti-Aging & Life Extension:

Some researchers have hypothesize that intracellular deficiency of zinc is a principal underlying cause of the aging process. If this hypothesis is correct, it would be prudent to use supplemental zinc to counteract the aging process.

Alcoholism:

Most alcoholics are found to be deficient in zinc. Zinc is involved in the detoxification of alcohol. It is a precursor for an enzyme named alcohol dehydrogenase that helps to detoxify alcohol.

Animal studies have confirmed the ability of supplemental zinc to reduce the toxic effects of alcohol and to reduce the craving for alcohol.

Allergies:

Zinc inhibits the inflammation that occurs during allergies. It “works” by inhibiting the excessive release of histamine from basophils and mast cells.

Anorexia nervosa:

Well-conducted clinical trials indicate that zinc therapy enhances the rate of recovery in anorexia nervosa patients by increasing weight gain and reducing their levels of anxiety and depression.

In one study, zinc therapy for 8-56 months resulted in weight gain of 15% or more in 85% of anorexia nervosa patients.

Most anorexia nervosa patients are found to be deficient in zinc.

ARMD
(Age-Related Macular Degeneration)

A clinical study found that zinc (80 mg per day) reduced the risk of advanced ARMD by 21%. When zinc was administered in combination with other antioxidants (vitamin C and vitamin E), the combination reduced the risk of further eyesight impairment in ARMD patients by 27%.

Another study found that zinc (40 mg per day for one to two years) retarded the loss of vision in ARMD patients.

In a clinical trial, a combination of oral and intravenous administration of zinc (together with selenium) was found to cause significant improvement in vision in ARMD patients.

Asthma:

Asthma patients have lower zinc levels compared with normal, healthy persons.

Experts hypothesize that imbalances in helper T-cells are a cause of asthma. Correction of zinc deficiency could possibly correct this imbalance and benefit asthma patients.

Attention Deficit Disorder:

A recent clinical study found that six to twelve weeks of supplemental zinc was statistically superior to placebo in reducing hyperactive, impulsive and impaired socialization symptoms of ADD.

Several earlier studies have shown that children with ADD are generally deficient in zinc.

Bad Breath:

When zinc is included as an active component of mouthwashes or toothpaste, it helps to neutralize the volatile sulfuric compounds (such as hydrogen sulfide) that are responsible for the offensive odor of bad breath.

Oral zinc supplements (especially zinc lozenges) exert this same effect.

Candida albicans:

Zinc deficiency increases susceptibility to infection by Candida albicans and Candida albicans proliferation lowers the body’s zinc levels.

Cervical Dysplasia:

Women with high plasma levels of zinc have been found to have increased regression (reversal) of cervical dysplasia.

Common Cold:

Zinc helps to prevent the common cold and shortens the duration of the symptoms of the common cold.

Clinical studies have shown that people who use zinc gluconate lozenges recover from the common cold in an average of 4.4 days compared to 7.6 days for those not using zinc lozenges. Symptoms measured in these studies include the duration of coughing, headaches, hoarseness and nasal drainage.

Crohn’s Disease:

Crohn's disease patients are often found to be deficient in zinc and supplemental zinc helps to restore the integrity of the intestines in Crohn’s disease patients.

Depression:

Studies that have deliberately induced zinc deficiency have resulted in depression, indicating that one of the underlying causes of depression can be zinc deficiency.

Dermatitis:

Many dermatitis sufferers have abnormally low levels of zinc.

Detoxification:

Zinc helps to remove some types of toxic heavy metals from the body including arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.

Diabetes Type 2:

Diabetes type 2 patients have lower zinc levels compared with normal, healthy persons; indicating that zinc deficiency may contribute to the development of diabetes mellitus type 2.

A clinical study found that supplemental zinc exerts numerous beneficial antioxidant effect in diabetes type 2 patients.

Another study found that six weeks of treatment with supplemental zinc reduces the severity of diabetic neuropathy.

Gingivitis:

Zinc deficiency increases the permeability of the gums, permitting the toxic bacteria that cause gingivitis to enter the gums more readily.

Several studies have shown that the use of mouthwashes containing zinc significantly reduce the severity of gingivitis.

Glandular Fever:

One of the world’s leading zinc researchers has noted that continuous use of zinc lozenges suppresses the replication of the Epstein-Barr virus that causes glandular fever. In a case study it was noted that zinc acetate lozenges (used continuously while the patient was awake) produced rapid reduction in inflammation, elimination of expectoration, elimination of fever, improved wellbeing, and elimination of edema and malaise in a glandular fever patient. The benefits occurred within one to three days after commencing zinc acetate lozenge treatment.

Hair Health:

A large proportion of the skin’s zinc content is concentrated in hair follicles and although zinc’s role in hair health has been poorly studied, there are some suggestions that it may help to slow the onset of gray hair. It is also believed that poor hair growth may occur as a result of zinc deficiency.

There are also suggestions that zinc may inhibit hair loss in men with male pattern baldness. One of the underlying causes of male pattern baldness is believed to be increased levels of testosterone’s “bad” metabolite, DHT. Zinc is known to inhibit the activity of the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. This could result in beneficial results for male pattern baldness sufferers.

Hives:

Zinc has been shown in laboratory studies to inhibit the release of histamine from white blood cells (named basophils) that are activated by the allergic reactions that occur during hives outbreaks.

Hypothyroidism:

Some hypothyroidism patients are found to have zinc deficiency. Some clinical studies have shown that supplemental zinc restores thyroid function where hypothyroidism is caused by zinc deficiency.

Zinc is an essential cofactor for the production of one of the thyroid hormones lacking in hypothyroidism patients – T3.

Immunity:

Zinc is essential for optimal immune system function. It increases the body’s levels of circulating T-cells including helper T-cells.

Zinc concentrates in the spleen and the thymus and zinc supplementation can stimulate the regrowth of thymus glands that have “shrunk” because of zinc deficiency.

Zinc is necessary for the body’s production of an important immunity-regulating hormone named thymulin (produced by the thymus gland).

These activities of zinc on immunity result in increased resistance to bacterial, viral and fungal infections.

Infertility (male):

Zinc is required for the production of testosterone (low testosterone can be an underlying cause of some cases of male infertility).

One human study found that men given a diet that was deliberately lacking in zinc experienced a significant decline in their sperm count. Low levels of zinc reduce sperm motility, while optimal zinc levels restore sperm motility.

Insulin Resistance:

Several studies have found that zinc deficiency is linked with increased resistance.

Intestinal Parasites:

Zinc inhibits the proliferation of intestinal parasites. It “works” by stimulating various aspects of the immune system in the digestive tract that are involved in the killing of intestinal parasites.

In a recent animal study, mice were deliberately made deficient in zinc. Intestinal parasites were better able to survive in zinc-deficient mice compared to mice that were not deficient in zinc. This indicated that zinc enhances aspects of the immune system that counteract intestinal parasites.

Joint Health:

Zinc alleviates the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Clinical studies have shown that supplemental zinc alleviates the joint inflammation and morning stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis and increases the walking time of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Most rheumatoid arthritis patients are found to be deficient in zinc.

Libido (men):

Low libido in men is one of the symptoms of zinc deficiency. Zinc is known to be an essential trace element for the production of testosterone, the principal hormone involved in male libido.

Lymphatic System:

Zinc deficiency leads to atrophy (shrinkage) of lymph nodes.

Morning Sickness:

Women who experience morning sickness have been found to have lower blood zinc levels, leading some researchers to speculate that zinc deficiency may contribute to morning sickness symptoms.

Mouth Ulcers:

Zinc supplementation has been found to result in minor improvement in the healing of mouth ulcers.

Muscle Cramps:

When muscle cramps occur at night, they are often caused by zinc deficiency.

Nail Health:

Brittle nails that split easily or white flecks or lines in the nails can occur as a result of zinc deficiency.

Night Blindness:

Zinc deficiency can cause night blindness. Zinc is an essential element for the conversion of vitamin A to the form used by the eyes to generate rhodopsin (the chemical in the eyes required for night vision).

Pancreatitis:

Zinc has been shown to help to reduce the severity of acute pancreatitis, regardless of whether it is taken before or after the onset of acute pancreatitis.

Parkinson’s Disease:

Parkinson’s disease patients have been shown to have significantly decreased zinc levels compared with normal, healthy persons.

Zinc increases the production of the antioxidant enzyme named superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. SOD is normally present in high levels in the substantia nigra (the region of the brain affected by Parkinson’s disease). Abnormally low SOD levels in the substantia nigra could accelerate the ability of free radicals to damage the neurons of the substantia nigra.

Peptic Ulcers:

Zinc accelerates the healing of peptic ulcers (especially stomach ulcers).

In a controlled trial, high doses of zinc were found to result in healing of stomach ulcers three times more rapidly than stomach ulcer patients receiving a placebo compound.

Prostate Health:

DHT (a metabolite of testosterone) stimulates the growth of the prostate and is implicated in enlarged prostate. Zinc inhibits the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT and thereby helps to prevent and treat enlarged prostate.

In one study the use of 100 mg of zinc sulfate per day resulted in a reduction in prostate enlargement in 75% of cases.

Another study found that 150 mg of zinc per day for at least two months, followed by a maintenance dose of 50 - 100 mg per day reduced the size of enlarged prostates in 74% of men.

Prostatitis:

Men with chronic prostatitis patients have been found to have low prostate levels of zinc.

A clinical study found that supplemental zinc reduced the pain, urinary symptoms, quality of life and the maximum urethra closure pressure in chronic prostatitis patients.

In an animal study involving rats, zinc (injected directly into the prostate) was found to inhibit the growth of the toxic bacteria in the prostate that cause chronic prostatitis.

Some doctors report that the condition of 70% of men with chronic prostatitis improves after use of high-dose zinc supplements.

Psoriasis:

Psoriasis patients have been found to have significantly lower blood plasma levels of zinc compared to normal, healthy people. Zinc supplementation helps to overcome this deficiency.

Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Rheumatoid arthritis patients often have low plasma zinc levels.

A clinical study found that women who used supplemental zinc have a 61% reduction in their risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

A clinical study found that high-dose zinc supplementation for 12 weeks significantly reduced joint swelling, and morning stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis patients; and improved rheumatoid arthritis patients' subjective assessment of disease activity.

Skin Health & Appearance:

Zinc is essential for maintaining optimal skin health - approximately 20% of the human body’s total zinc reserves are stored in the skin. Zinc deficiency results in dry, rough or cracked skin.

Surgery Recovery:

Most patients are found to have low blood zinc levels following surgery. This depletion of zinc increases the risk of post-surgery complications. Zinc facilitates the healing of wounds following surgery.

Tinnitus

Zinc is essential for proper ear function. Many tinnitus sufferers have been found to have low levels of zinc. Supplemental zinc alleviates (and sometimes totally cures) tinnitus in people whose tinnitus is caused by low zinc levels).

In a clinical study, 82% of tinnitus patients experienced a reduction in their subjective symptoms of tinnitus after two months of daily treatment with 50 mg of zinc.

Tooth Decay:

Several studies have found that zinc-containing toothpaste prevent tooth decay.

In an animal study involving rats, oral consumption of zinc reduced tooth decay in animals receiving a cariogenic (tooth decay-producing) diet by 18%.

Vision:

Zinc retards the degeneration of the region of the eye that is integral to the progression of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and helps to prevent loss of vision experienced by ARMD patients.

In one study the effects of oral zinc supplementation were compared with a placebo compound in 151 subjects with macular degeneration. The group receiving zinc supplementation were found to experience significantly less loss of vision after 12 to 24 months of therapy compared to the patients who received a placebo.

Several studies have demonstrated that zinc supplementation retards the further progression of cataracts.

Zinc is known to concentrate in the retina of the eye and activates an enzyme that produces the form of vitamin A used to improve night vision. Studies have shown that zinc supplementation improves the ability of the eyes to adapt to darkness and that it improves night vision in night blindness patients with zinc deficiency.

Warts:

Zinc may influence the immune system in a way that facilitates the killing of the papilloma virus that causes warts.

In a clinical study, patients with various types of warts (common warts, plantar warts, and plane warts) were treated with oral zinc. The patients each had more than fifteen warts each, and were not responsive to other standard treatments. Each patient received up to 135 mg per day of elemental zinc per day (from zinc sulfate). Eighty-seven percent of patients receiving zinc experienced complete disappearance of their warts after two months of treatment. Of these, 61% experienced disappearance of their warts after one month of treatment.

Wounds:

Zinc is essential for the healing of wounds. In zinc-deficient people, supplemental zinc has been demonstrated to accelerate the healing of wounds by up to 40%.

Dosage:

15 - 50 mg per day.

Some conditions (e.g. acne, warts) require higher doses (in the range of 90 - 150 mg per day) until benefits become noticeable.

For the common cold and glandular fever, zinc lozenges are used.

Zinc sulfate cream is applied topically to the skin for the treatment of some skin problems.

Zinc-containing mouthwash is used for the treatment of gingivitis.

References

Alcoholism

· Skal'nyi, A. V., et al. [Reduction of voluntary alcohol consumption under the effects of prolonged-action zinc.] Biull Eksp Biol Med. 113(4):383-385, 1992.

Allergies

· Marone, G., et al. Physiological concentrations zinc inhibit the release of histamine from human basophils and lung mast cells. Agents Actions. 18(1-2):103-106, 1986.

Anorexia nervosa

· Su, J. C. Zinc supplementation in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Eat Weight Disord. 7(1):20-22, 2002.

Anti-Aging & Life Extension

· Garfinkel, D. Is aging inevitable? The intracellular zinc deficiency hypothesis of aging. Med Hypotheses. 19(2):117-137, 1986.

ARMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration)

· Newsome, D. A., et al. Oral zinc in macular degeneration. Arch Ophthalmol. 106(2):192-198, 1988.

Asthma

· Truong-Tran, A. Q. New insights into the role of zinc in the respiratory epithelium. Immunol Cell Biol. 79(2):170-177, 2001.

Attention Deficit Disorder

· Bilici, M., et al. Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of zinc sulfate in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 28(1):181-190, 2004.

Bad Breath

· Rolla, G., et al. The significance of the source of zinc and its anti-VSC effect. Int Dent J. 52(3 Supplement):233-235, 2002.

Candida (thrush)

· Singh, K. P., et al. Effect of zinc on immune functions and host resistance against infection and tumor challenge. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 14(4):813-840, 1992.

Cervical Dysplasia

· Liu, T., et al. A longitudinal analysis of human papillomavirus 16 infection, nutritional status, and cervical dysplasia progression. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 4(4):373-380, 1995.

Common Cold

· McElroy, B. H., et al. 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. 10(5):324-329, 2003.

Crohn’s Disease

· Sturniolo, G. C., et al. Zinc supplementation tightens "leaky gut" in Crohn's disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 7(2):94-98, 2001.

Depression

· Nowak, G., et al. Mechanisms contributing to antidepressant zinc actions. Pol J Pharmacol. 54(6):587-592, 2002.

Dermatitis

· Shankar, A. H., et al. Zinc and immune function: the biological basis of altered resistance to infection. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 68(Supplement):447S-463S, 1998.

Detoxification

· Rabbani, G. H., et al. Antioxidants in detoxification of arsenic-induced oxidative injury in rabbits: preliminary results. J Environ Sci Health Part A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 38(1):273-287, 2003.

Diabetes Type 2

· Sjogren, A., et al. Magnesium, potassium and zinc deficiency in subjects with type II diabetes mellitus. Acta Med Scand. 224(5):461-466, 1988.

Gingivitis

· Williams, C., et al. Efficacy of a dentifrice containing zinc citrate for the control of plaque and gingivitis: a 6-month clinical study in adults. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 19(2 Supplement):4-15, 1998.

Glandular Fever

· Eby, G. A. Handbook for Curing the Common Cold: the Zinc Lozenge Story.

Hives

· Marone, G., et al. Physiological concentrations zinc inhibits the release of histamine from human basophils and lung mast cells. Agents Actions. 18(1-2):103-106, 1986.

Hypothyroidism

· Napolitano, G., et al. Is zinc deficiency a cause of subclinical hypothyroidism in Down syndrome? Ann Genet. 33(1):9-15, 1990.

Immunity

· Fraker, P. J., et al. Interrelationships between zinc and immune function. Fed Proc. 45(5):1474-1479, 1986.

Insulin Resistance

Faure, P., et al. Zinc and insulin sensitivity. Biol Trace Elem Res. 32:305-310, 1992.

Joint Health

· Pandley, S. P., et al. Zinc in rheumatoid arthritis. Indian Journal of Medical Research. 81:618-620, 1985.

Lymphatic System

· Mocchegiani, E., et al. Therapeutic application of zinc in human immunodeficiency virus against opportunistic infections. Journal of Nutrition. 130(5):1424S-1431S, 2000.

Intestinal Parasites

· Scott, M. E., et al. Zinc deficiency impairs immune responses against parasitic nematode infections at intestinal and systemic sites. Journal of Nutrition. 130(5 Supplement):1412S-1420S, 2000.

Libido (men)

· Dr. Robert Erdmannn & Meiron Jones. Minerals: the Metabolic Miracle Workers. Century. London, UK. 1988:84.

Male Infertility

· Takihara, H., et al. Effect of low-dose androgen and zinc sulfate on sperm motility and seminal zinc levels in infertile men. Urology. 22(2):160-164, 1983.

Morning Sickness

· Teksen, F., et al. Copper, zinc and magnesium status in hyperemesis gravidarum. J Obstet Gynaecol. 21(1):46-48, 2001.

Mouth Ulcers

· Orbak, R., et al. Effects of zinc treatment in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Dent Mater J. 22(1):21-29, 2003.

Muscle Cramps

· Kugelmas, M. Preliminary observation: oral zinc sulfate replacement is effective in treating muscle cramps in cirrhotic patients. J Am Coll Nutr. 19(1):13-15, 2000.

Nail Health

· Pfeiffer, C. C. Mental and Elemental Nutrients. Keats Publishing, New Canaan, CT, USA. 1975:229.

Night Blindness

· Christian, P., et al. Zinc supplementation might potentiate the effect of vitamin A in restoring night vision in pregnant Nepalese women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 73(6):1045-1051, 2001.

Pancreatitis

· Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition. 26(3):213-225, 1999.

Parkinson’s Disease

· Forsleff, L., et al. Evidence of functional zinc deficiency in Parkinson's disease. J Altern Complement Med. 5(1):57-64, 1999.

Peptic Ulcers

· Bulbena, E. G. Zinc compounds, a new treatment in peptic ulcer. Drugs under Experimental and Clinical Research. 15(2):83-89, 1989.

Prostate Health

· Wright, J. V. Treatment of benign prostate hypertrophy with zinc. Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients. April 1996:82.

Prostatitis

· Deng, C., et al. [Clinical study of zinc for the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis.] Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 10(5):368-370, 2004.

Psoriasis

· Hinks, L. J. Trace element status in eczema and psoriasis. Clin Exp Dermatol. 12:93-97, 1982.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

· Simkin, P. A.. Oral zinc sulphate in rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet. 2(7985):539, 1976.

Skin Health & Appearance

· Rostan, E. F., et al. Evidence supporting zinc as an important antioxidant for skin. International Journal of Dermatology. 41(9):606-611, 2002.

Surgery Recovery

· Senapati, A., et al. Zinc depletion and complications of surgery. Clinical Nutrition 9:341-346, 1990.

Tinnitus

· Arda, H. N., et al. The role of zinc in the treatment of tinnitus. Otol Neurotol. 24(1):86-89, 2003.

Tooth Decay

· Rapisarda, E., et al. [Effects of zinc and vitamin B6 in experimental caries in rats.] Minerva Stomatol. 30(4):317-320, 1981.

Vision

· Grahn, B. H., et al. Zinc and the eye. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 20:S106-S118, 2001.

Warts

Al-Gurairi, F. T., et al. Oral zinc sulphate in the treatment of recalcitrant viral warts: randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. British Journal of Dermatology. 146(3):423-431, 2002.

Wounds

· Agren, M. S. Zinc in wound repair. Archives of Dermatology. 135(10):1273, 1999.