Zinc Deficiency and Liquid Vitamins

Clinical deficiency in humans was first described in 1961, when consumption of diets low in zinc bioavilability was asswociated with "adolescent nutritional dwarfism" in the Middle East.

Since than several important aspects of this nutrients value to life 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.

On the cellular level, this nutrients benefits 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 this nutrient plays 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. This nutrient 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. 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 deficiency contributes to the impaired physical and neuropsychological development and increased susceptibility to life-threatening infections in young children.

A number of 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 market that can help prevent this deficiency.

Natural Treatments for Zinc Deficiency

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