zinc deficiency

Zinc or its equivalent in English Zinc is an essential mineral for the human body and plays very important roles such as the production of digestive enzymes, strengthening the immune system, etc. Some of which are discussed in this article. We will pay.

The role and function of zinc in the body:

Zinc is needed to produce protein and nucleic acid in the body and to convert proteins into amino acids and vice versa. The activity of more than 100 enzymes, including digestive enzymes, which are responsible for digestion and absorption of food, is dependent on the element zinc, and many digestive problems, from indigestion to bloating, can be directly related to zinc deficiency. .

Zinc strengthens the immune system and helps produce white blood cells (WBCs). White blood cells are the body's defenses and are responsible for fighting viruses, bacteria and other pathogens. Zinc deficiency severely weakens the immune system and causes recurrent colds and other viral and infectious diseases.



The human olfactory and taste systems need the element zinc for activity, so people with zinc deficiency have a poor sense of smell and taste. They do not work properly without the sensory and olfactory sensors and cannot transmit nerve signals completely to the brain.

The body needs zinc to heal wounds and damaged tissues, and another symptom of zinc deficiency is a delay in wound healing.

Zinc plays an important role in the production of DNA and RNA in which our genetic information is stored.

Zinc is involved in many other biochemical activities in the body, and instead of naming each one, I will mention some of the symptoms and problems associated with zinc deficiency.



Symptoms and problems associated with zinc deficiency:

Skin problems: Stretch marks, varicose veins, acne, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, white spots on the nails can all be caused by zinc deficiency.

Fungal diseases: Zinc deficiency weakens the immune system and fungi and infectious agents will have the opportunity to multiply and grow. One of the reasons that some people can not easily get rid of skin fungus and sinus infections is the lack of zinc and excess copper in the body.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): In women, a few days before menstruation, the metabolism of the hormone estrogen increases, which causes the release of copper in the bloodstream. Those women who are deficient in zinc have more physical and psychological changes. Experience compared to others.

Decreased sexual desire and sperm volume in men: There is a significant amount of zinc in men's sperm, in other words, the male sexual system needs zinc to produce sperm and testosterone, and zinc deficiency reduces sperm count and sexual desire in men.



Hair Loss: The body uses zinc to make protein. Hair is also made from a protein called creatine, and to stay healthy, a person needs to get enough zinc and protein through nutrition.

Decreased memory and learning: Zinc is needed for the activity of a part of the brain called the cortex. The cortex is responsible for some mental matters such as logic, reasoning, etc. Decreasing the amount of zinc in the body increases the amount of copper. In contrast to copper, copper is responsible for boosting emotions. In people with zinc deficiency, their brains are less inclined to use the cortex to deal with daily issues. Traits such as irritability, depression, excessive emotions, etc. are more common in people with zinc deficiency.

Growth retardation in children and adolescents: Zinc is required for the production of many hormones such as growth hormone, it is very important to receive this important element in childhood and adolescence, growth retardation in children, non-genetic short stature can Have something to do with zinc deficiency. Today, due to soil erosion and reduced food quality, almost all children and adolescents need to use supplements containing calcium, magnesium, zinc and vitamin D.

Delayed wound healing: The production of new cells and scar tissue that the body uses to heal wounds is highly dependent on adequate levels of zinc and vitamin C. Symptoms such as delayed wound healing, bruising with the slightest trauma, and stress are all directly related to vitamin C and zinc deficiency.

Digestive problems: Indigestion, bloating and constipation are other symptoms associated with zinc deficiency in the body.

Vision problems: Zinc and vitamin A are essential for the functioning and health of the visual system, without zinc the body can not use vitamin A properly, zinc and vitamin A deficiency causes various problems in vision from reduced visual acuity to night They are blind, and zinc deficiency also increases the risk of cataracts in the elderly, and some researchers believe that zinc, vitamin A, selenium and other nutrient deficiencies are the main causes of the disease.

 Amount of daily body needs to:

Adolescent boys 14 to 18 years old need 11 mg daily, adolescent girls 14 to 18 years old 6 mg, adult men (19+ years old) 12 mg and adult women (19+ years old) 6.5 mg daily.

Pregnant and lactating women need 9 to 11 mg of zinc per day.

The amount needed by children should be determined by a doctor.

Food sources containing zinc:

The best food sources of zinc are seafood such as fish, shrimp, seashells, beef and veal, pumpkin seeds, peanuts and sesame seeds, and to a lesser extent zinc found in eggs, spinach and peas.

Zinc Dietary Supplements (Zinc)

Zinc supplements are produced in different types and doses, consumption of zinc up to 5 mg per day is unobstructed and beneficial for most people.

Note: Consumption of high doses of zinc supplements or their long-term use disrupts the absorption and metabolism of other elements such as copper, iron, manganese and diseases such as anemia, etc.

Do not take dietary supplements without consulting your doctor.