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Zinc and Health Zinc is necessary for more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. Here is a list of some of them: a. Preserves a healthy immune response to prevent colds b. Protects against prostate cancer c. Prevents degenerative processes like arthritis, cardiovascular disease, premature aging, cancer and repairing damaged DNA d. Zinc also has key roles in metabolizing alcohol e. Regulating blood pressure (it is a cofactor in angiotensin-converting enzyme) f. It is necessary for protein digestion as the peptidase enzymes do no work without it g. Zinc also increases mucin production which protects the stomach from ulcers h. It is necessary to convert proteins to glucose when the blood sugar gets low i. Fatty acid metabolism requires zinc in order to produce essential fats needed in many cellular activities.(cofactor in delta 6 desaturase enzyme) j. Zinc is key in insulin production and utilization, and is contained within the insulin molecule k. Zinc is required in the conversion of thyroid hormone T4 to T3 l. It is also a factor in removing oxygen radicals and so is considered a primary antioxidant. Zinc is part of the superoxide dismutase enzyme systems m. Zinc is antagonistic to heavy metals and helps with detoxification of mercury, cadmium, and lead n. Zinc also blocks the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydroxytestosterone and so is helpful in preventing and reducing benign prostatic hypertrophy o. Zinc is necessary for sperm motility and formation. With inadequate zinc levels, men can have low testosterone and low sperm counts. p. Zinc blocks the aromatase enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen. Thus in men with feminizing symptoms or who can’t build muscle, zinc may be low q. The highest concentration of zinc in the male body is in the prostate gland r. With low levels of zinc a person loses a sense of taste s. All patients with anorexia nervosa should be checked for zinc deficiency, as should patients with acne, delayed wound healing, depression, hearing problems, fatigue, frequent infections, night blindness, light sensitivity, hair or nail problems (brittleness or white spots), and sexual problems Modern diets have reduced amounts of zinc compared to times past. The average daily intake has reduced from 43.4 to 12.5 mg per day. So zinc deficiency is commonly found when looked for in many patients. To determine zinc levels there are two ways one can do it. The first is a red blood cell minerals test from Metametrix Labs. In addition to zinc all of the other important minerals are also tested. Another method is to have a person taste a specific solution of zinc solution and give their taste reaction. This taste reaction can give an indication whether the patient is deficient or not. Many health care practitioners can supply the solution for the test. When supplementing with zinc at doses above 50 mg/day copper levels should be followed. This can cause an increase in cholesterol and lower HDL levels. Copper can be supplemented at the same time to prevent this from happening. High doses of zinc can also cause folate deficiency and very high doses above 150 mg/day may lead to diarrhea, lethargy, dizziness, vomiting and incoordination. On the other hand, supplementation of calcium, folic acid, or iron can interfere with absorption of zinc and lead to deficiency. Drugs can lead to zinc deficiency as well including thiazide diuretics, histamine 2 antagonists, and ACE inhibitors. The foods that are richest in zinc are lean meats, liver, eggs, whole grains, and oysters. Since zinc is so important in so many aspects of health, I’d suggest you ask your health care practitioner about a zinc taste test, or better, do a blood test for red blood cell zinc levels. The Role of Zinc in Men's Health Kathleen Jackson, RPh, NMD, FIACP, DiHom 8/18/2005 Owner and Pharmacist, The Family Pharmacy La Porte, Texas Copyright © 2008 Optimum Health Report, All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer