Zinc

Please note the following referenced scientific research is for informational use only. The results reported below may not necessarily occur in all our customers. The information should not replace advice from your health care practitioner. This information should not be read to recommend or endorse any specific product.

Zinc is an essential trace mineral known to play an important role in all human living cells. Adequate zinc levels are essential to maintain normal body function. Zinc plays a key role in maintaining a healthy immune system, supporting the integrity of your gastrointestinal system and contributes to healthy hair, vibrant skin and eye health. Zinc deficiency due to inadequate dietary intake is common, and lifestyle factors can contribute to a deficiency.

Skin Health

  • There is increasingly consistent clinical evidence for Zinc supplementation and optimal skin health (Braun & Cohen 2015, 1210).

  • Research suggests low plasma zinc in acne patients correlates with acne severity (Braun & Cohen 2015, 1210).

  • Zinc taken daily reduces skin inflammation (acne vulgaris, rosacea) (Gupta et al. 2014).

  • Research suggests low serum zinc levels and the severity and type of acne may be related. The more severe acne, the lower the serum zinc levels are (Mogaddam et al. 2014).

Immune System

  • A review of current research indicates the association between zinc intake with a significant reduction in the duration of common cold symptoms (Singh & Das 2013).

  • Zinc reduces oxidative stress, functioning as an antioxidant and decreasing inflammatory cytokines (Prasad 2008). 

  • Zinc deficiency affects the growth of T and B cells (essential cells of our immune system) (Prasad 2008).

Digestive System

  • Research suggests the relationship between zinc deficiency and villi degeneration, mucosal cell death, compromised tissue integrity and inflammation of the gastrointestinal system (Scrimgeour & Condlin 2009).

Hair Health

  • Alopecia is a well-known sign of established zinc deficiency with hair regrowth occurring with zinc supplementation (Almohanna et al. 2019). 

  • A zinc deficiency may lead to brittle hair and thinning of hair (Guo & Katta 2017). 

  • Zinc deficiency may affect hair phase growth and cause weakened hair shafts, hair breakage and slow hair regrowth (Fattah et al. 2016).

Nail Health

  • Zinc is essential for maintaining the structural integrity of nails (Cashman & Sloan 2010).

  • Zinc plays a crucial role in the synthesis of keratin, the primary protein that forms the structure of nails. Ensuring adequate zinc levels can help prevent brittleness and promote thickness, which are vital for healthy nails​ (Cashman & Sloan 2010).

Eye Health

  • Zinc is important to maintaining the health of the retina as it is an essential constituent of many ocular metalloenzymes (Rasmussen & Johnson 2013). 

  • Zinc influences cell metabolism through a variety of mechanisms and is shown to play an integral role in maintaining normal ocular function (Grahn et al. 2001). 

  • Zinc is present in high concentrations in ocular tissue in the retina, retinal epithelium and choroid and a deficiency may result in ocular manifestations (Grahn et al. 2001). 

  • Zinc is an essential element in a number of components in the eye including the retina, choroid, cornea and lens and it is well known that zin deficiency causes functional impairments in various parts of the eye (Karcioglu 1982).

  • Supplementing with zinc may improve night vision and pair with vitamin A can improve night blindness (Christian et al. 2001).

References

  • Braun, L., and Cohen,Marc. 2015. Herbs & Natural Supplements An Evidence-based guide Volume 2. 4th ed. Australia: Elsevier.

  • Singh, M., Das, RR. 2013. “Zinc for the common cold”. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 18. 6 (Jun). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23775705 

  • Mogaddam, MR., Ardabili, NS., Makeki, N., Soflaee, M. 2014. “Correlation between the severity and type of acne lesions with serum zinc levels in patients with acne vulgaris.” BioMed Research International. 1-6. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2014/474108/

  • Scrimgeour, AG., Condlin, ML. 2009. “Zinc and micronutrient combination to combat gastrointestinal inflammation.” Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 12. 6 (Nov): 653-60. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19684516 

  • Almohanna, HM., Ahmed, AA., Tsatalis, JP. Tosti, A. 2019. “The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review”. Dermatology and Therapy, 9. 1 (Mar): 51-70. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6380979/# 

  • Guo, EL., Katta, R. 2017. “Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use.” Dermatology Practical & Conceptual, 7. 1 (Jan): 1-10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033/ 

  • Prasad, AS. 2008. “Zinc in Human Health: Effect of Zinc on Immune Cells.” Molecular Medicine, 14. 5-6 (May-Jun): 353-357. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2277319/ 

  • Linus Pauling Institute. 2020. “Micronutrient Information Center - Zinc.” https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/zinc

  • Fattah, ANS., Atef, MM., Al-Qaradaghi, SM. 2016. “Evaluation of serum zinc level in patients with newly diagnosed and resistant alopecia areata.” International Journal of Dermatology, 55. 1 (Jan): 24-9. 10.1111/ijd.12769

  • Gupta, M., Mahajan, VK., Mehta, KS., Chauhan, PS. 2014. “Zinc therapy in dermatology: a review”. Dermatology research and practice. 2014: 709152. doi:10.1155/2014/709152

  • Rasmussen, HM., Johnson, EJ. 2013. “Nutrients for the aging eye.” Clinical interventions in aging, 8. 741–748. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S45399

  • Grahn, BH., Paterson, PG., Gottschall-Pass, KT., Zhang, Z. 2001. “Zinc and the eye”. J Am Coll Nutr. 20:106-18. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2001.10719022.

  • Karcioglu, ZA. 1982. “Zinc in the eye.” Surv Ophthalmol. Sep-Oct;27(2):114-22. doi: 10.1016/0039-6257(82)90195-3.

  • Christian, P., Khatry, SK.,. Yamini, S., Stallings, R.. LeClerq, S., Shrestha, SR., Prafhan, EK., West, KP. 2001. “Zinc supplementation might potentiate the effect of vitamin A in restoring night vision in pregnant Nepalese women.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 73. 6(Jun): 1045-1051. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/73.6.1045

  • Cashman MW, Sloan SB. Nutrition and nail disease. Clin Dermatol. 2010 Jul-Aug;28(4):420-5. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2010.03.037.