Zinc deficiences a global concern
NewsRx.com

10-01-09

Other vitamins and nutrients may get more headlines, but experts say as many as two billion people around the world have diets deficient in zinc - and studies at Oregon State University and elsewhere are raising concerns about the health implications this holds for infectious disease, immune function, DNA damage and cancer (see also Oregon State University).

One new study has found DNA damage in humans caused by only minor zinc deficiency.

Zinc deficiency is quite common in the developing world. Even in the United States, about 12 percent of the population is probably at risk for zinc deficiency, and perhaps as many as 40 percent of the elderly, due to inadequate dietary intake and less absorption of this essential nutrient, experts say. Many or most people have never been tested for zinc status, but existing tests are so poor it might not make much difference if they had been.

"Zinc deficiencies have been somewhat under the radar because we just don't know that much about mechanisms that control its absorption, role, or even how to test for it in people with any accuracy," said Emily Ho, an associate professor with the Linus Pauling Institute at OSU, and international expert on the role of dietary zinc.

However, studies have shown that zinc is essential to protecting against oxidative stress and helping DNA repair - meaning that in the face of zinc deficiency, the body's ability to repair genetic damage may be decreasing even as the amount of damage is going up.

Two studies recently published, in the Journal of Nutrition and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found significant levels of DNA damage both with laboratory animals and in apparently healthy men who have low zinc intake. Zinc depletion caused strands of their DNA to break, and increasing the intake of zinc reversed the damage back to normal levels.

"In one clinical study with men, we were able to see increases in DNA damage from zinc deficiency even before existing tests, like decreased plasma zinc levels, could spot the zinc deficiency," Ho said. "An inadequate level of zinc intake clearly has consequences for cellular health."

Many zinc studies, Ho said, have focused on prostate cancer - the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men - because the prostate gland has one of the highest concentrations of zinc in the body, for reasons that are not clearly known.

When prostate glands become cancerous, their level of zinc drops precipitously, and some studies have suggested that increasing zinc in the prostate may at least help prevent prostate cancer and could potentially be a therapeutic strategy. There are concerns about the relationship of zinc intake to esophageal, breast, and head and neck cancers. And the reduced zinc status that occurs with aging may also contribute to a higher incidence of infection and autoimmune diseases, researchers said in one study in the Journal of Nutrition.

Zinc is naturally found associated with proteins in such meats as beef and poultry, and in even higher levels in shellfish such as oysters. It's available in plants but poorly absorbed from them, raising additional concerns for vegetarians. And inadequate intake is so prevalent in the elderly, Ho said, that they should usually consider taking a multivitamin to ensure adequate levels.

Zinc is an essential micronutrient for numerous cellular processes. But taking too much zinc can also be a concern, because in excess it can interfere with the absorption of other important nutrients such as iron and copper. The recommended daily allowance is eight milligrams a day for women, 11 for men, and anything over 50 milligrams a day could be considered excessive, Ho said.

"The consequences of zinc deficiency in adults have been understudied despite the recognition of symptoms of zinc deficiency for decades," researchers wrote in one recent report. "A considerable body of evidence suggests that zinc deficiency may increase the risk of some chronic diseases, including cancer. This link may be attributed to the role of zinc in antioxidant defense and DNA damage repair."

Extra zinc is one of the liquid minerals I take in the products from GLN,
what they call their Nano Zinc. I also take extra Potassium and Magnesium
in this form from GLN too. I used to take extra zinc in hard tablet form, but
switched to GLN's liquid zinc for better absorption.
Good article, Nightowl. Thank you!

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May you always have..Love to Share, Health to Spare, and Friends that Care!

Thanks EarlyBird,
I remembered what you said on another post about the liquid minerals...now if I could just remember to order them! I've been hooked on 11 to 13 part videos on You Tube lately and they are eating up my time. I'll try to get around to it today.

Good one nightowl. Thanks.

"...and perhaps as many as 40 percent of the elderly, due to inadequate dietary intake and less absorption of this essential nutrient, experts say."

That is due to lower stomach acids as we age. You would not think so, if you have acid reflux; but it is still true. Stomach acid is needed for zinc absorption. I help this process by supplementing with TMG before meals. Also you should always take zinc with your large meal of the day; otherwise you may become nauseated.

It is a strange vicious cycle that zinc is required for stomach acid creation; and yet the acid is required for absorption.

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- Jim
�Look! Out the window! There is a flying cow!� St.Thomas Aquinas looked, and they all burst into laughter. He calmly replied, �I would rather believe that the cow is flying than that my friends would lie to me!�

jfh,
I wonder if taking a teaspoon of apple cider viegar in a glass of water with meals would help zink absorbtion? That's an old remedy when you are not producing enough acidic digestive juices.

These are a few of the statements from the article that caught my attention:

"Zinc depletion caused strands of their DNA to break, and increasing the intake of zinc reversed the damage back to normal levels."

"And the reduced zinc status that occurs with aging may also contribute to a higher incidence of infection and autoimmune diseases, researchers said in one study in the Journal of Nutrition."

"Zinc deficiencies have been somewhat under the radar because we just don't know that much about mechanisms that control its absorption, role, or even how to test for it in people with any accuracy," said Emily Ho, an associate professor with the Linus Pauling Institute at OSU, and international expert on the role of dietary zinc.
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In other words, they don't even have a reliable way to test for zink deficiency and yet a deficiency can damage our DNA, contribute to infections (inflammation is a big problem now) and autoimmune disease. Sounds like it could be involved with metabolic syndrome. I'm going to be better about taking it, for sure. If the greatest source is meat and shellfish I may be deficient because I eat very small portions of meat. I've always preferred vegetables with just a little meat.

nightowl, ACV at mealtime is good for digestion; as it complements digestive acid. That would help zinc absorption as well.

I bought my husband some Solaray Zinc (zinc amino acid chelate)50mg, with Pumpkin Seed 50mg, to take along with his Saw Palmetto and Beta-Sitosterol. I was only taking an additional Zinc supplement now and then, but now I'm taking it almost everyday with him.

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This was yrs ago, (2001), but I was at a raw vegan pot luck (I am an omnivore) and was sitting next to chiroprator who practiced nutrition. He was saying that even though organic produce is better, the farmland has been depleted in minerals. It is good to take zinc supplements and if you take zing, take a 1 or 2 mg copper supplement a couple times a week.

More about zink from GLN today:


Here are a few notes about Zinc. Especially interesting is that zinc deficiency in children mimics ADHD.

Zinc deficiency around the world affects about 33% of the world population, this according to the WHO (World Health Organization).

The number one (1) nutritional deficiency in children within the United States is zinc deficiency, this according to a Tufts University Study.

According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) 62% of American young children do not get enough zinc in their diets. Many eat foods that deplete zinc from their diet.

USDA states: Phytic Acid or seed-derived Phytates can cause zinc deficiency.

"Zinc deficiency mimics symptoms of ADHD," said Dr. L Eugene Arnold, a child psychiatrist at Ohio State University Medical Center, principal investigator for a zinc study. Many (most) children need to be on zinc supplements.

Tufts University Research declares, Zinc to Reduce Pneumonia by 50% in elderly people, Published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

1.7 million children die as a result of diarrhea and dehydration. In 2004 the WHO/UNICEF issued a joint statement recommending the use of zinc as an essential nutrient for human growth, development and maintenance of the immune system.

Zinc ions inhibit virus production in HeLa cells infected with human rhinovirus, that from the Journal of Virology.

Zinc ions kill herpes simplex infection, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, National Institutes of Health Resources, Eby.

According to The American Family Physician, "There is never any indication for antibiotic treatment for the common cold."

JAMA (The journal of the American Medical Association) Colds and antibiotics should not be administered for such.

American Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Zinc ions are how the body absorbs zinc.

In human HIV infections, serum levels of zinc are frequently diminished. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Here is a brief summary of the benefits of zinc:

1. Zinc is an essential mineral that is found in almost every cell.

2. Zinc provides immediate protection against disease.

3. Zinc improves symptoms of coughs and colds.

4. Zinc stimulates the activity of enzymes, which are substances that promote biochemical reactions in the body.

5. Zinc supports a healthy immune system.

6. Zinc promotes healthy hair and facilitates wound healing and skin conditions, such as acne, eczema and psoriasis.

7. Zinc helps maintain your sense of taste and smell.

8. Zinc is an essential element for DNA synthesis.

9. Zinc supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence.

10. Zinc supports prevention of pneumonia and diarrhea in children.

11. Zinc kills herpes simplex viruses.

12. Zinc works to protect against prostate cancer.

This information is excerpted from a booklet by Dr. Roger A. Gunderson, MMI Labs.

I think we've all heard about using Zinc Losenges for help in preventing colds
during the Winter months especially.
Also, I think oysters contain lots of zinc; aren't they said to be great for
sexual/libido functtioning? Right now raw oysters are being sold at my Kroger
sea-food deli as they're a favorite for many to use in Oyster dressing at
holiday time. I buy them to make my own oyster soup/stew, as well as year
round in cans for the same purpose. I do love those little fellas!

I live in oyster country and lived a block from the Pacific Ocean for 17 years and still don't know about the zink, but mostly they are known for iodine. (Sorry, I discovered this is wrong...see my next post below.)

I knew zink was recommended for cold viruses, but was surprised by the statement that it cut pneumonia by 50% in the elderly. Do you suppose if we were 80 years old and near death in the hospital that the doctor would think to give us zink?...I doubt it. A lot of senior citizens die of pneumonia.

Here's a listing I found of the top ten foods with the highest Zinc content:

You got me that time, for sure! I've lived in oyster country most of my life and I've always thought the strong taste from the black centers came from iodine! I tried to search for iodine info just now and found some mention of it being in oysters, but not in the large quantities that I expected. Thanks for clearing that up! I thought all shell fish was high in iodine.