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BLOG: Adequate zinc levels are important to overall health
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There has been some recent controversy about supplementing with zinc and age-related macular degeneration.
The original Age-Related Eye Disease Study formula used 80 mg of zinc oxide, and a reduction in progression from stage 3 to stage 4 AMD was seen.
AREDS 2 compared the use of 80 mg to 25 mg and found no significant difference, but chose to stay with the 80 mg dosage. Now we have a study showing that certain genetic variants portend a positive or negative outcome based on their genetic expressions: patients with two high-risk complement factor H genes do far worse taking zinc than taking antioxidants alone or a placebo. So, what should we believe?
While the adult body contains only about 2 g to 3 g of zinc, it is essential for many physiological functions and plays a significant role in a number of enzyme actions in the living systems. Zinc is found in organs, tissues, bones, fluids and cells. Based on its role in such a plethora of cellular components, zinc has diverse biological functions, from enzymatic catalysis to playing a crucial role in cellular neuronal systems.
Zinc is a fundamental mineral and one of the most common deficiencies in the world. It is essential to human and animal growth patterns and has an essential role in the development of hormones and immune molecules. Zinc is one of the best mineral supplements to boost and balance out a tired and overstimulated immune system.
According to David Jockers at naturalnews.com, experts predict that nearly 2 billion people, or about 25% of the world’s population, are deficient in zinc. This deficiency is thought to result from inadequate consumption, but there is actually much more zinc deficiency resulting from poor biochemical pathways.
Jockers writes that a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates results in poor blood sugar signaling, which results in inadequate absorption of zinc. Those with leaky gut syndrome are often deficient in zinc for the same reason. Consumption of high amounts of grains and legumes as well as regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also adversely affect zinc levels.
Zinc is crucial for balancing the immune system, inhibits viral replication and toxic debris accumulation, improves immune coordination and contributes to suppression of chronic inflammatory conditions.
Zinc also plays an important role in preventing cancer cell growth patterns, Jockers said.
“It has been shown to decrease tumor cell angiogenesis and the induction of inflammatory cytokines,” he said. “It also increases apoptosis (programmed cell death) in abnormal cell lines, which reduces the chances of cancer growth.”
Good sources of zinc include oysters, shellfish, meat and eggs (preferably from grass-fed and pasture-raised animals), whole grains, nuts and seeds – especially sprouted pumpkin, sunflower, hemp and chia.
The National Institutes of Health recommends between 8 mg and 11 mg of zinc daily for most adults.
“However, for functional health, most progressive nutritionists and doctors recommend between 30 mg/d and 40 mg/d,” Jockers says. “Zinc can be a problem when one takes in more than 100 mg/d. It is best to get a combination of zinc complexes from zinc gluconate, zinc amino acid chelate and zinc citrate.”
According to Kaur and colleagues in Zinc: The Metal of Life, excess zinc promotes obesity and related diseases in adolescents and makes patients with diabetes more susceptible. It is also related to severe anemia.
So while there is no definitive answer to the question of zinc for AMD patients, we can see how important an adequate level of zinc is to overall health. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
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