It was studied by Keilin and Mann that zinc is essential for the activity of some enzymes. It is a component of vital enzyme carbonic anhydrase, and other enzymes like several dehydrogenises (alcohol, glutamics, and certain pyridine nucleotide) and pancreatic carboxypeptidase's.
It is found in traces in all tissues, except the bones, teeth, and pancreas which have slightly more amount of zinc. A normal adult contains 1.4-2.5 gm of zinc. Zinc level for adults in plasma or serum is 0.1/100 ml, and in whole blood it is 0.7mg/100 ml. The need for zinc is small but its role in growth and well being is great.
It exists in the body mostly in combination with other constituents. It is bluish-white, metallic element. It is excreted mainly in urine. A study results said that rheumatoid arthritis can be taken care of by a diet rich in vitamin E, zinc, and beta carotene.
Recommended Daily Allowance: The RDA of 3 mg for infants, 10 mg for children, and 10-15 mg for adults is suggested. Most human diet provides these requirements. Growing children, pregnant and lactating women need more.
The zinc is administered on medical reasons for rapid healing of skin ulcers, acne, eczema, wounds, and prostate disorders.
Too much of zinc can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and damage to the kidneys. 50-75 mg a day can backfire or lower HDL (good) cholesterol. Too much of zinc can cause loss of iron and copper in the body.
Dietary Sources: Whole wheat, breakfast cereals, nuts, legumes, animal food, like crabs, sardines, oysters, lean meat, eggs, cheese, and fish are good sources of zinc. The bioavailability of zinc in vegetables foods is low whereas animal foods are dependable sources.
Intensive cultivation over hundreds of years has caused depletion of zinc in soil, and thereby in the food crops grown in the area.
Functions of the Body: Zinc is an integral and essential element of insulin molecule. Zinc easily forms a compound with Insulin, and thus prolongs insulin action. As pancreas is rich in zinc, it helps storage of insulin in the pancreas.
Zinc promotes growth and sexual maturity, improves immune system and hastens healing of wounds, and helps digestion of protein. It is an ideal remedy for fatigue. It is needed to transport Vitamin A to the retina.
Deficiency Sources: The negative zinc balance could be due to low protein diet, pregnancy, refined foods, intestinal diseases, chronic alcoholism, diabetes, chronic fever, and haemodialysis. The deficiency of zinc can cause loss of appetite and taste, alopecia, skin lesions, reduced growth, and dysfunction of reproductive system. A syndrome of growth failure (dwarfism), hypogonadism, anemia, delayed genital maturation and hepatomegaly due to zinc deficiency has been found. Acute zinc efficiency results in mental apathy, diarrhoea, moist eczema, and dermatitis especially around the mouth. In advanced age, deficiency of zinc is more prominent but, in young age, there can be slow hair growth and decrease in blood corpuscles. Its deficiency adversely effect utilization of iron, and copper. More on Zinc- Benefits, Dosage, Deficiency, Sources
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