ZINC: RESEARCH ARTICLES The Chiropractic Resource Organization
Zinc
This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C. Send all comments or additions to:
Frankp@chiro.org
If there are terms in these articles you don't understand, you can get a definition from the Merriam Webster Medical Dictionary. If you want information about a specific disease, you can access the Merck Manual. You can also search Pub Med for more abstracts on this topic.
Zinc plays an important role in the proper functioning of the body's immune system. Several studies have shown that zinc lozenges shorten the duration of cold symptoms in adults. Zinc is required for a number of activities related to cell reproduction and wound healing. It has also been linked to improvements in one's senses of smell and taste, and is involved in the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates for energy consumption.
Zinc Articles
New Zinc Research Reveals More Applications
Zinc is one of the nutrients most essential to health. In the last year, research has brought further understanding of zinc's critical role in immune system health. Zinc is now understood to maintain proper functioning of the epithelial cells lining the intestines and blood vessels. In addition, some studies have yielded intriguing results suggesting that zinc may protect against atherosclerosis and diabetes, as well as opportunistic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, and even the common cold.
Zinc Halts Colds
Zinc lozenges have been used to treat the common cold for a number of years, but research results on their effectiveness have been contradictory. Now, a comprehensive, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted by Ananda Prasad, M.D., Ph.D., of Wayne State University in Detroit has shown that zinc lozenges work.
Zinc, Not Iron, May Be the Answer to Anemia
Anemia, or low red blood cell count, is one of the most common medical conditions among pregnant women and almost inevitably secures a woman a megadose iron prescription. But zinc and iron are both required to build red blood cells (RBC), and deficiencies often occur concurrently. Now a Japanese study shows that supplementing with both minerals is more effective than either alone and that some prenatal anemia is due to a deficiency of zinc, not iron.
Nutrients and HIV Part II: Vitamins A and E, Zinc, B-Vitamins, and Magnesium
Alternative Medicine Review 2000 (Feb); 5 (1): 39–51 – FULL TEXT
Vitamin A deficiency is a common occurrence in HIV infection, and serum levels appear to decrease as the disease progresses. (1) Low serum levels of vitamin A were found in 12-19 percent of HIV-positive, asymptomatic subjects in the United States. (1,2) Vitamin A deficiency was found in an increasingly higher proportion of women than men (p< .01) in an HIV-infected, intravenous drug-using population. (3)
Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Growth and Body Composition in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Amer J Clin Nutrit 2002; 75 (2) Feb: 300–307
Thirty-eight children completed the study. No significant differences were observed at baseline. After 12 mo, the zinc group had significantly greater mean (±SE) increases in height (0.66 ± 0.29 cm/y), sitting height (0.97 ± 0.40 cm/y), knee height (3.8 ± 1.2 mm/y), and arm circumference z scores (0.27 ± 0.12 cm/y). Height-for-age and weight-for-age z scores decreased significantly by 0.11 ± 0.04 and 0.13 ± 0.05, respectively, in the control group but did not change significantly in the zinc group.
The Biological Significance of Zinc
Anaesthesist 1975; 24 (8) Aug: 329–342
Zinc takes part in the catalytic function of many metalloenzymes. In others it plays a role in conformational stability. In zinc deficient animals protein synthesis is disturbed. Conversely zinc metabolism is influenced by protein deficiency. Zinc takes part in drug metabolism, in mobilizing vitamin A from the liver, and in a system defending the organism against free radical damage. Zinc distribution in the organism is influenced by steroid hormones and leucocytic endogenous mediators.
Effect of Zinc Supplementation in Fracture Healing
Anaesthesist 1975; 24 (8) Aug: 329–342
After roentgenological, macroscopic and histological examination of healing of fractures of weekly intervals, it was concluded that the Zinc supplementation to an appreciable extent enhanced the process of bone healing which could be further hastened by addition of Vitamin C and Dianabol. No significant toxic or side effect of zinc supplementation was observed in any of the rabbits.
Immune and Nutritional Recovery of Severely Malnourished Children
Cahiers Sante 1996; 6 (4): 201–208
Children receiving zinc attained immunological recovery within one month, whereas children not receiving zinc took two months. Thus zinc hastened immunological recovery concomitant with nutritional recovery such that the duration of hospitalization could be halved: after one month of this immuno-nutritional treatment, malnourished children appear to be sufficiently healthy to face their pathogenic home environment.
Zinc Gluconate Lozenges for Treating the Common Cold: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study
Ann Intern Med 1996; 125 (2) Jul 15: 81–88
Zinc gluconate in the form and dosage studied significantly reduced the duration of symptoms of the common cold. The mechanism of action of this substance in treating the common cold remains unknown. Individual patients must decide whether the possible beneficial effects of zinc gluconate on cold symptoms outweigh the possible adverse effects.
Nutrient Intake of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis is Deficient in Pyridoxine, Zinc, Copper, and Magnesium
J Rheumatol 1996; 23 (6) Jun: 990–994
Patients with RA ingest too much total fat and too little PUFA and fiber. Their diets are deficient in pyridoxine, zinc and magnesium vs the RDA and copper and folate vs the TAD. These observations, also documented in previous studies, suggest that routine dietary supplementation with multivitamins and trace elements is appropriate in this population.
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