Zinc

Benefits of Zinc

– Plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division.
– Plays an important role in the immune system, which may explain why it is helpful in protecting against infections such as colds.
– Plays a role in the regulation of appetite, stress level, taste, and smell.
– It is essential for normal growth and development.

Best Absorbed Form

Chelated zinc gluconate

Take With

Take with food if needed, zinc can be hard on your stomach.

Don’t Take With

Iron, copper, phosphorus, magnesium or calcium

When zinc is combined with certain foods it may not be absorbed into your body. Avoid the following foods for approx 2 hours after you take zinc: bran, fiber-containing foods, whole-grain breads and cereals, and phosphorus-containing foods such as milk or poultry.

Information on Zinc

Zinc is an essential trace mineral, which means that it must be obtained from the diet since the body cannot make enough. A daily intake of zinc is required because the body doesn’t have a zinc storage system.

Zinc is eliminated in stool and is dependent on fat for absorption. [55] As a result it can be assumed that due to the larger and more frequent stools following DS increase zinc loss, and thus increase supplement requirements. [66]

Research has shown that less than 50 mg a day is a safe amount to take over time. There has not been a lot documented on what happens if more is taken over a long period. Taking more than 150 mg per day may interfere with the body’s ability to use other minerals. [67]

Relationship Between Zinc and Copper

A strong relationship exists between zinc and copper. Too much of one can cause a deficiency in the other. Long-term use of zinc (including zinc in a multivitamin) should be accompanied by copper. For every 15 mg of zinc, include 1 mg of copper. [67]

High doses of zinc may lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol and raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. This may be due to a copper deficiency brought on by the long-term use of zinc. [67]

Copper is also needed to help your body use iron.

For More Information on Zinc

www.drugs.com University of Maryland Medical Center 
National Institute of Health