Use Of Zinc In The Human Body – Clinically reviewed by Natalie Olson, R.D., LD., ACSM EP-C — By Rachel Null, MSN, CRNA — Updated July 18, 2023

Although the body does not require large amounts of zinc, zinc deficiency is possible. Possible causes of zinc deficiency include chronic conditions, not getting enough zinc through the diet, and more.

Use Of Zinc In The Human Body

The body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to function optimally. An essential mineral is zinc, which is found in small amounts in foods.

What Are The Functions Of Zinc?

If zinc is not needed in the body, a person may experience symptoms associated with zinc deficiency.

Zinc supports cell function, helping an estimated 100 enzymes — molecules that make chemical reactions — carry out their duties.

Zinc also supports human growth and development. Thus, it is an essential mineral for pregnant women as well as growing children.

A person’s body does not store zinc, which means that getting enough of the mineral from food is important to prevent a deficiency.

Zinc Acetate Tips & Advice From Top Doctors

Symptoms of zinc deficiency are related to the role of zinc in the body. Some common symptoms of zinc deficiency include:

Men and boys can also experience impotence and hypogonadism, which occurs when a man’s body does not produce enough testosterone.

According to an article published in the journal, around 1.1 billion people worldwide suffer from zinc deficiency due to inadequate diet.

Vegetarians eat high levels of legumes, soybeans, beans, nuts, and whole grain food products. While they are healthy food choices, they can impair the body’s ability to absorb zinc due to the presence of phytates. These substances bind to zinc, so the body cannot absorb it.

The Critical Role Of Zinc In Your Body

Older adults are at risk of zinc deficiency because they do not eat or have access to a variety of foods. Taking certain medications can also increase the release of zinc in the body.

There is also a rare medical disorder called acrodermatitis enteropathica, which affects the body’s ability to absorb zinc.

While a doctor may order a blood test or urine test to check zinc levels, these may not give a definitive result. This is because zinc is present in small amounts in the body’s cells.

To diagnose zinc deficiency, a doctor will need to take a complete health history. They will ask questions about a person’s diet. If a person does not consume enough daily calories or does not eat a variety of foods, it is possible that zinc deficiency may be an underlying cause.

Functions Of Zinc: What Role Does Zinc Play In The Body?

Supplements are available at most pharmacies and health stores. Supplements may contain varying amounts of elemental zinc (molecular weight of actual zinc) and are labeled as zinc gluconate, zinc sulfate, or zinc acetate.

Each supplement should contain information about how much elemental zinc is available in each type. Zinc is also a common component of throat lozenges, as zinc is believed to help treat the common cold.

A person who eats a wide variety of foods is more likely to get enough zinc in their daily diet. This includes lean meats, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.

There are ways a person can prepare and eat foods to make zinc more available in their daily diet.

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For example, one can soak beans in water before cooking them. This reduces the presence of phytates, making it easier for the body to process zinc.

Choosing fermented grain products can also help reduce the amount of phytates, increasing the amount of zinc available to the body.

Just as zinc deficiency can cause problems, a person can have too much zinc. This usually occurs when a person takes excessive amounts of zinc supplements to boost their immune system.

Consuming too much zinc can cause symptoms ranging from nausea and vomiting to impaired immune system function. For this reason, adults over the age of 19 should not take more than this

Protective Role Of Zinc In The Pathogenesis Of Respiratory Diseases

If a person thinks they may be deficient in zinc, they should talk to their doctor about supplements or other treatments.

Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link to primary sources—including studies, scientific references, and statistics—within each article and list them in the Sources section below our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace mineral and the second most abundant micronutrient in the human body after iron. It is important for many physiological functions and is involved in many aspects of cellular metabolism. Zinc is found in large amounts in the brain, muscles, bones, kidneys and liver, with the highest concentrations in the prostate and parts of the eye. It is required for the catalytic activity of nearly 100 enzymes as well as immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA and RNA synthesis, signal transduction, cell division, hair growth and skin health. In addition, zinc is essential for normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood and adolescence and is essential for the proper sense of taste and smell. To perform these multifaceted functions, zinc must be properly distributed throughout the body. The adult human body contains about 2-4 grams of zinc. To maintain a steady state, the body requires a daily intake of zinc because it cannot synthesize or store zinc. The best sources of zinc include oysters, red meat, poultry and seafood. Beans, nuts, and whole grains can also provide some zinc but may contain compounds that prevent zinc from being fully absorbed. The daily zinc requirement depends on age and ranges from 8 mg to 13 mg for adults. Zinc is absorbed primarily through the small intestine, and is excreted primarily through the gastrointestinal tract with some excretion through urine and sweat.

Major causes of zinc deficiency in humans include decreased dietary intake, inadequate absorption, chronic disease, increased use of body systems (such as during pregnancy and lactation), or zinc deficiency (burns, hemodialysis, hemolysis, diarrhea, etc.). In addition, people who undergo gastrointestinal surgery such as weight loss surgery and people who suffer from digestive disorders have decreased zinc absorption and increased urinary zinc loss. Vegetarians and vegans are also at a higher risk of zinc deficiency because they do not eat meat, which is a good source of zinc. Also, alcoholics are deficient in zinc because alcoholic beverages reduce the amount of zinc absorbed by the body and increase the amount lost in the urine.

Zinc deficiency can affect up to two billion people worldwide and is most prevalent in developing countries. Populations at risk include children and older adults. Globally, 17.3% of the population is at risk of zinc deficiency due to dietary deficiencies; In some regions of the world the number is as high as 30%. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized zinc deficiency as a major disease risk factor. Zinc deficiency is characterized by stunted growth, loss of appetite, impaired immune function, and infections. In more severe cases, zinc deficiency causes hair loss, diarrhea, delayed sexual maturity, male impotence, hypogonadism, and eye and skin lesions. Weight loss, delayed wound healing, taste abnormalities, cognitive impairment, and mental retardation may also occur. Certain psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression are also associated with low zinc levels. Zinc deficiency during pregnancy adversely affects both mother and fetus. Inadequate zinc in the mother can interfere with both the order and efficiency of the birth process. Mothers suffering from zinc deficiency may also experience difficult labor, hemorrhaging, uterine dystocia, placental abruption, miscarriage, and birth defects. In addition, zinc deficiency is considered a leading cause of infant mortality. During infancy and childhood, a time of rapid growth and development, zinc deficiency can affect many metabolic processes. Low maternal zinc status is associated with poor attention and impaired motor function.

Health Benefits Associated With Consuming Zinc In Your Diet

Some people need to take zinc supplements to meet their daily needs. The amount of zinc absorbed by the body is highly dependent on its bioavailability. Some food components, such as phytates, calcium, and phosphate, can reduce the bioavailability of zinc and inhibit its absorption. Also, zinc can interact with certain medications, including some antibiotics and diuretics that can lower zinc levels in the body. Even when zinc supplements are well absorbed, some people may experience stomach upset after taking them. Liposomal delivery systems have been developed to address these issues. Liposomes can encapsulate zinc and protect it from interactions with food compounds that negatively affect its absorption. Liposomes are absorbed by a different route than other drugs. This will prevent the interaction of zinc with other drugs and medications that can reduce its bioavailability. In addition, liposomes do not allow zinc to come into direct contact with the gastric mucosa, therefore reducing gastrointestinal irritation and other side effects. With all these advantages, liposomes are more efficiently absorbed by cells and remain in the bloodstream for longer. To be more effective, liposomes should have a small size in the nanoscale range. Nanoliposomal zinc is the best zinc supplement because of this

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