Zinc
and the Immune System
Zinc
is present in every cell in the body and is also
a component in over 200 enzymes as well. Actually,
zinc is involved in more enzymatic reactions than
any other mineral constituent in mammals. Zinc is
essential for normal skin, vision, smell, taste,
reproduction and for protein synthesis and wound
healing. It is also one of the most important factors
in a healthy immune system, as well as being essential
to normal brain development.
A
study published in 1997 in the Journal of the American
College of Nutrition reported that Chinese children
receiving 20 mg. of zinc supplementation daily scored
10-15% higher on educational tests than unsupplemented
children.
Zinc
is involved in just about every aspect of immunity
and helps support a healthy immune system, including
the immune enhancing "T" cells which are
necessary for immune response.
WHY
MIGHT MY INDIVIDUALS BE DEFICIENT IN ZINC?
The
best sources of zinc are shellfish, fish, and red
meats with oysters being by far the richest source.
Substantial amounts are also found in certain plant
foods such as whole grains, legumes, nuts, mushrooms
and some herbs. The zinc from plant sources is not
absorbed well, because it binds to a fiber compound
in plant seeds called phytic acid to form an insoluble
zinc-phytate complex which can not be assimilated.
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