Zinc combat infection and is very essential for regulating the immune system, metabolism function and also important in wound healing. Zinc plays a vital role to regulate growth, reproduction and combat infection, the built in covid warrior.
Zinc is a mineral and is called as essential trace element, because very small amounts of zinc are necessary for human health. Zinc is very essential for regulating the immune system, metabolism function and also important in wound healing. Zinc plays a vital role to regulate growth, reproduction and combat infection. Zinc is considered as an essential nutrient, meaning that our body can’t produce or store it. For this reason we must get it through food or supplements and one must get a constant supply through our diet.
Functions of Zinc
Zinc is required for numerous processes in our body, including gene expression, enzymatic reactions, immune function, protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, wound healing, growth and development of our organs. Zinc is the second most abundant trace mineral in our body, after iron and is present in every cell.
- Zinc is very essential for the activation of over 300 enzymes that aid in metabolism, digestion, nerve function and many other biological processes in our body.
- Zinc is very critical for the development and function of immune cells. Zinc helps to keep our immune system strong and very essential for cell signaling and immune cell function. The deficiency of zinc can lead to a weakened immune response. Zinc supplements stimulates immune cells, reduce oxidative stress and reduces the risk of infections.
- The mineral zinc is also fundamental to skin health, DNA synthesis and in protein
- Zinc plays a vital role in cell division and Therefore the body growth and development relies on zinc.
- Zinc is essential for our senses of taste and smell. Since one of the enzymes crucial for proper taste and smell is dependent on this nutrient, a zinc deficiency can reduce our ability to taste or smell.
- Zinc is an essential mineral which accelerates wound Zinc is commonly used in hospitals as a treatment for burns, certain ulcers and skin injuries. Zinc plays a vital role in collagen synthesis and hence in wound healing.
- Zinc may relieve oxidative stress and improve body immune response by boosting the activity of T-Cells and natural killer cells, which help protect our body from infection.
Zinc requirement
The recommended daily amount of zinc is 8 milligrams (mg) for women and 11 mg for adult men. However during lactation and pregnancy women may need 11 mg per day. Zinc is possibly safe when taken by mouth in doses not greater than 40 mg per day. There is some concern that taking more than 40 mg per day, might decrease copper absorption and may cause anemia. Zinc helps to produce key sex harmones, such as testosterone and prolactin. There is evidence that dietary zinc may impact male sexual competency.
Too much of zinc can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite stomach cramps, diarrhoea and headache. Zinc should not be taken with immunosuppressant medications like corticosteroids and cyclosporine. Zinc also has direct antiviral activity and stimulates antiviral activity. Zinc can be safely taken along with vitamin D. Now a days a lot of immune booster drugs are coming to the market with the combination of vitamin C, Vitamin D3 and Zinc. Please consult with your family physician, before taking these medications. Covid-19 behaves aggressively in immune compromised patients and zinc contributes substantially to our body immunity and strengthen immunity to combat covid-19. Therefore zinc is termed as built in ‘covid warrior’ of our body.
Zinc availability
There are various forms of zinc which impact health in distinct ways.
- Zinc gluconate : Most commonly used over the counter forms of zinc, often used in cold remedies such as lozenges and nasal sprays.
- Zinc acetate : Also added to cold lozenges to reduce symptoms and speed rate of
- Zinc sulphate: commonly used to enhance the immunity, available in tablet
- Zinc is also available as zinc citrate and zinc picolinate as tablets.
Zinc is thus available in capsule, tablet and lozenge forms, there are plenty of options to set our daily dose of zinc regardless of the type one desires.
Uses
- To improve the immune function of body.
- To promote blood sugar control and insulin secretion.
- Zinc supplements are often used to promote skin health and treat common skin conditions like acne.
- Zinc improves the heart function by lowering tryglecerides and cholesterol levels.
- Zinc helps to slow the macular degeneration and help protect against vision loss and blindness especially in aged people.
- Zinc helps to reduce to duration of cold symptoms and has got mild antiviral property also.
Last Word
Zinc is a mineral essential to many aspects of general health. Supplementing with 20-40 mg of elemental zinc daily may improve immunity, blood sugar levels and eye, heart and skin health. One should not take more than 40 mg of elemental zinc per day. The known side effects of zinc supplements include digestive issues like vomiting , nausea, flu like symptoms, headache and reduced copper absorption leading to anemia. Also zinc when taken with antibiotics may reduce the effectiveness of the latter. If one wants to increase the zinc level of body, should take food which are rich in this mineral, such as nuts, seeds, legumes, meat, seafood and dairy products.
Shellfish, beef, lamb and pork meat also has high levels of zinc. Red meat is the great source of zinc. Oyster and crab also has great amount of zinc. Legumes like chickpeas, lentils and beans all contain substantial amounts of zinc. Some seeds live hemp, pumpkin, squash and seasame seeds contain significant amount of zinc. Nuts like peanuts, cashew and almonds also has good amount of zinc. Now during this crisis of covid-19 pandemic, zinc is the real boon to all of us and doctors wisely termed this essential mineral as built in ‘covid warrior’ of our human body.
Dr.Muralee Mohan Choonthar
Suraksha Dental Clinic, Hosangadi
Manjeshwara – 671323 ,Kasaragoad, Kerala.
Mob. : 98451357787 Ph: 04998-273544, 235111
www.surakshadental.com
email: drmuraleemohan@gmail.com
