Minor Minerals

Zinc

Function

Zinc functions in many enzymatic reactions and is a component of over 200 enzymes. Besides its role in catalyzing reactions, zinc has a major role in the structure and function of membranes and in regulating gene expression. in other processes, zinc assists in the metabolism of carbohydrates and protein and is involved in the action of hormones such as thymic, insulin, growth and sex hormones. Zinc is found in many body tissues, including the pancreas, liver, kidney, lung, muscle, bone, eye, and endocrine glands.

Absorption and Excretion

Zinc is absorbed primarily in the upper jejunum of the small intestine. It is transported into mucosal cells by a pancreatic zinc-binding ligand and picked up by albumin for transport to the liver for subsequent storage or processing.

Other dietary factors may interfere with the absorption of zinc. These include calcium intake, dietary fiber, casein, and copper. Gastrointestinal diseases, such as Crohn's disease, also often affect the absorption of zinc. Zinc is primarily excreted through the intestinal tract.

Clinical Conditions

Zinc deficient diets can lead to a variety of function difficulties, ranging from growth retardation to anorexia to lethargy.

• Hypogonadism, a syndrome depicted by dwarfism and decreased function of the sexual organs, may be seen when there is zinc deficiency during growth periods of children or adolescents.
• Lack of Zinc may cause a reduction in cell division, affecting bone growth.
• Acrodermatitis enteropathica, a heredity disorder characterized by skin lesions and diarrhea, has been proven to be caused by zinc deficiency.
• Zinc deficiency has been associated with impaired taste and smell, impaired glucose tolerance, and altered lipid metabolism.
• Zinc deficiency can result in an impairment of the immune system. Specific immune processes negatively affected by deficiency include thymic hormone production, function of plasma lymphocytes and neutrophils, and natural killer cell activity.

Recommended intake

The RDA for zinc is 15 mg for adult males, 12 mg for adult females and children, and 5 mg for infants.

Food Sources

The best source of zinc is oysters. Beef and other red meats are good sources of zinc. Whole grains are sources of zinc, though commercial processing techniques usually slough off the the bran and germ portions of the grain, where zinc is mostly located. Legumes and nuts are also good sources.

Supplementation

Zinc supplementation has been used for pregnancy, immune function, sexual function, rheumatoid arthritis, acne, macular degeneration, and Wilson's disease. The dose of supplementary zinc used for these conditions is usually in the range of 30 to 60 mg.

Zinc is relatively nontoxic. However, excessive intakes (greater than 150 mg per day) could interfere with copper metabolism and cause a copper deficiency. Excessive intake has also been associated with impaired immune function.