What is zinc?
Important in Growth, Immunity, Neurotransmission, Vision, Reproduction, Metabolism
Deficiency symptoms
True deficiency = rare
Vegan Caution: The presence of mineral thieves (phytate and oxalate) reduces mineral absorption. Intake should increase by 50%.
Cofactors: Cu, Fe, Ca, Folate, Vit A (vision)
Where is it found?
Meat, eggs, seafood (oyster 25 mg/30 g)
Caution: Plant sources: Grains and legumes…poorly absorbed
Indications for zinc supplements
Immunity, Acne
Dosage: 8 mg women, 11 mg men
Supplements: max 30 mg per day (15 to 30 mg = OK) UL: 40 mg/day chronic, Acute (IVRS): 75 mg per day,
Food or supplements?
Iron-competition interactions
Chelating drugs (tetracycline, bisphosphonates, Rx to be taken on an empty stomach)
Antiviral: Atazanavir, rotinavir
Antibiotic: Cephalexin, quinolone (Cipro), tetracyclines
References:
https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/zinc
https://zinc.ca/blog/get-enough-zinc-diet
Prasad AS. Zinc in human health: effect of zinc on immune cells. Mol Med. 2008 May-Jun;14(5-6):353-7. doi: 10.2119/2008-00033.Prasad. PMID: 18385818; PMCID: PMC2277319. https://molmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.2119/2008-00033.Prasad
O'Dell, B. L. (1984). History and status of zinc in nutrition: Introduction. Federation proceedings-Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (USA)
Prasad AS (2008). Zinc in human health: effect of zinc on immune cells. Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.), 14(5-6), 353–357. https://doi.org/10.2119/2008-00033.
Kim J. (2013). Dietary zinc intake is inversely associated with systolic blood pressure in young obese women. Nutrition research and practice, 7(5), 380–384. https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2013.7.5.380
Roohani, N., Hurrell, R., Kelishadi, R., & Schulin, R. (2013). Zinc and its importance for human health: An integrative review. Journal of research in medical sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 18(2), 144–157.
Lonnerdal, B. (2000). Dietary factors influencing zinc absorption. The Journal of nutrition, 130 (5), 1378S-1383S.
Prasad, A. S. (1983). Clinical, biochemical and nutritional spectrum of zinc deficiency in human subjects: an update. Nutrition reviews, 41(7), 197-208
Saunders, AV, Craig, WJ, & Baines, SK (2013). Zinc and vegetarian diets. The Medical journal of Australia, 199(S4), S17–S21.
Solomons, N.W., & Jacob, R.A. (1981). Studies on the bioavailability of zinc in humans: effects of heme and nonheme iron on the absorption of zinc. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 34(4), 475-482.
Chiplonkar, S.A., & Agte, V.V. (2006). Predicting bioavailable zinc from lower phytate forms, folic acid and their interactions with zinc in vegetarian meals. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 25(1), 26-33.
Health Canada. (2006). Dietary Reference Intakes. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/dietary-reference-intakes/tables/reference-values-elements-dietary-reference-intakes-tables-2005.
Phytate and zinc absorption
Gibson RS, Raboy V, King JC. Implications of phytate in plant-based foods for iron and zinc bioavailability, setting dietary requirements, and formulating programs and policies. Nutr Rev. 2018 Nov 1;76(11):793-804. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuy028. PMID: 30010865.
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