Zinc Benefits and Liquid Vitamins
Zinc benefits are numerous in dealing with cellular activity.
Zinc is an essential trace element,
and liquid vitamins and mineral supplements can help in the processes of zinc.
The significance of zinc benefits in human nutrition and public health was recognized in the early 1960's.
Clinical zinc deficiency in humans was first described in 1961, when consumption of diets low in zinc bioavailability was associated with
"adolescent nutritional dwarfism"
in the Middle East.
Since than zinc deficiency and zinc benefits have been recognized by a number of experts as an important public health issue, especially in developing countries. There are a number of
aspects of cellular metabolism
that are zinc dependent.
Zinc plays important roles in growth and development, the immune response, neurological function, and reproduction, and the value of zinc benefits can not be overlooked.
On the cellular level,
the function of zinc and the benefits of zinc can be divided into three categories: catalytic, structural, and regulatory.
With catalytic functions, nearly 100 enzymes depend on zinc for their ability
to catalyze vital chemical
reactions.
Zinc-dependent enzymes can be found in all known classes of enzymes. In the structural role, zinc plays an important part of the structure of proteins and cell membranes. The superior
absorption ratio of liquid vitamins and minerals
of over 90%, allows for them to help in these processes.
A finger like structure, known as the zinc finger motif, stabilizes the structure of a number of proteins. For example, copper provides the catalytic activity for the antioxidant enzyme copper-zinc super-oxide dismutase, while zinc and the benefits of zinc play a critical structural role.
Loss of zinc from biological membranes increases their
susceptibility to oxidative damage
and impairs their function. In the regulatory role, zinc fingers have been found to regulate gene expression by acting as transcription factors by binding to DNA and influencing the transcription of specific genes.
Zinc and zinc benefits also plays a role in cell signaling and has been found to influence hormone release and nerve transmission. Most of what is known about
severe zinc deficiency
was derived from studying a generic disorder resulting from impaired uptake and transport of zinc.
The symptoms of severe zinc deficiency include the slowing or cessation of growth and development, delayed sexual maturation, characteristic skin rashes, and chronic and severe diarrhea.
Other symptoms include immune system deficiencies,
impaired wound healing, diminished appetite,
impaired taste sensations, night blindness, swelling and clouding of the corneas, and behavioral disturbances.
The ease of taking and the ease of digesting liquid vitamins and minerals make them
much easier for people of all ages
to take as compared to traditional pills or capsules. Before these cases of genetic disorder where discovered, patients typically died in infancy.
Mild zinc deficiency contributes to a number of health problems, especially common in children of developing countries. Studies have found that mild zinc deficiency contributes to the impaired
physical and neuropsychological development
and increased susceptibility to life-threatening infections in young children.
Shellfish, beef and other red meats are rich sources of zinc, as well as nuts and legumes. Foods that are especially rich in zinc include: Oysters, crab (Dungeness), beef, pork, chicken (dark meat), turkey (dark meat), yogurt (fruit), cheese (cheddar), milk, cashews, almonds, peanuts, beans (baked), and chickpeas (garbanzo beans).
A number of zinc supplements are available,
including zinc acetate, zinc gluconate, and zinc sulfate. Zinc picolinate has been promoted as a more absorbed form of zinc.
Intranasal zinc (zinc nasal and nasal sprays), are designed to be applied directly to nasal epithelium (cells lining nasal passages), and are also marketed as over-the-counter cold remedies.
There are several very good brands of liquid vitamin and mineral supplements available in today's markets including the following brands:
Vitabase Liquid Vitamins and Zinc Benefits
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