The Effects of Zinc
Deficiency on Human Health
by Stewart Hare
There is a range of effects
that signal zinc deficiency such as retardation of growth in
children, male reproduction, low blood sugar, poor bone growth,
brain disorders, high blood cholesterol, poor circulation,
eating disorders, problems with female reproduction, poor skin,
nails and hair conditions
and poor sense of taste and smell.
Zinc is vital for healthy growth; dwarfism, stunted growth
and being underweight for their age may occur in children if
there diet is deficient in zinc.
Zinc is essential for sexual reproduction and development.
Sperm needs zinc to function properly; any deficiency in zinc
will affect fertility. Deficiency in zinc interferes with the
cell division in sperm. Young boys going through puberty need
higher levels of zinc to develop healthy reproductive organs.
Any deficiency of zinc and the body will draw it from other
areas such as the brain which could then lend to learning
problems through puberty.
The prostate gland has the highest concentration of zinc in the
body. The lack of zinc in older men has been linked to
inflammation of the prostate gland known as prostatitis.
Zinc helps in the way the body regulates the high and lows of
blood sugar level and it has been linked to help people who
have hypoglycaemia. The deficiency of zinc has an effect on
circulation; it has been linked to cold hands and feet and high
blood pressure. Cholesterol in the blood has a tendency to rise
if there is a deficiency of zinc in the body.
Painful hip and knee joints have been linked to zinc
deficiency, this is because the bones contain a large amount of
zinc and any deficiency will cause them to become thicker and
shorter causing pain and other symptoms. Also the body's
ability to heal would be compromised if there is a zinc
deficiency.
Zinc deficiency in children can cause all types of brain
disorders such as mild to severe retardation, dyslexia and
other problems with mental development. This is because the
area of the brain that controls emotions need to contain high
levels of zinc. Depression and mental lethargy can also result
from zinc deficiency. Mental diseases such as epilepsy and
schizophrenia have been associated with the lack of zinc. The
lack of zinc can also have a marked effect on emotional and
addictive behaviour such as alcoholism and obsessions. In the
case of alcoholism, alcohol depletes zinc from the body when it
is consumed which then intern starts a downward cycle of
craving for more alcohol which then results in more depletion
of zinc and so on. Zinc deficiency has also been linked with
antisocial behaviour such as delinquency and criminality.
Zinc deficiency has been associated as one of the contributing
aspects to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and
bulimia. It has been noted that some people with anorexia
nervosa loose the sense of taste, this links with zinc
deficiency as it is known that some people with zinc deficiency
have a poor sense of taste (ageusia) and smell (anosmia). Zinc
supplement are known to stimulate appetite and improve food
intake with people who have eating disorders.
The lack of zinc can cause problems with female reproduction;
it can cause lack of ovulation, late onset of menstruation and
amenorrhea (lack of periods).
Zinc deficiency has an effect on the skin, nails and promotes
poor growth of hair. The skin looses its flexibility and
elasticity and is prone to stretch marks, this affects pregnant
women especially. Acne, boils, dermatitis, psoriasis and white
marks on fingernails all respond to extra zinc in the diet.
Lack of zinc has also been associated with gum inflammation,
increased risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, poor wound
healing, eczema, tinnitus and acute diarrhoea in Third World
children.
Zinc deficiency is common in low-income pregnant women,
pregnant teenagers, people suffering from liver cirrhosis,
people with Down's syndrome, children with alopecia areata,
vegetarians, alcoholics, people with sickle cell anaemia,
people with chronic kidney disease and malabsorption
problems.
Typical signs of zinc deficiency in a person are loss of
appetite, poor sense of smell and taste, tendency towards
depression, white marks on fingernails, pale skin, frequent
infections, low fertility, stretch marks, prostate problems,
stunted growth, mental problems, poor wound healing, a poor
immune system, diarrhoea, mental lethargy, poor appetite, rough
skin, weight loss, ache and greasy skin.
To treat zinc deficiency, it is best to advise a person to
increase foods that are high in zinc content within their diet.
These foods are Oysters, ginger root, lamb, pecan nuts, dry
split peas, haddock, green peas, shrimps, turnips, Brazil nuts,
egg yolks, whole wheat grain, rye, oats, peanuts and almonds.
Pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed butter are excellent sources of
this vital mineral.
Good stomach acid, vitamin A, E and B6, magnesium, calcium and
phosphorus will all help with the absorption of zinc.
Phytates (wheat), alcohol, oxalates such as rhubarb and
spinach, stress, high calcium, high sugar intake, copper and
low protein intake will all hamper the absorption of zinc.
Zinc supplements will also help with zinc deficiency; this can
be either in the form of zinc sulphate or zinc gluconate
ranging from doses of 15 to 300 mg for an adult. Chelated zinc
is the best form of zinc supplements to be taken.
In conclusion, zinc is an essential mineral with over 300
enzymes reliant on it to help heal wounds, maintain fertility
in adults, protect against free radicals, promote healthy
growth in children, boost immunity, synthesise protein,
preserve good vision and help cells reproduce. Deficiency is
very common (especially in the Third World) and can cause major
health complaints, zinc deficiency can be over come by
consuming the right diet full of foods that are high in zinc
and by supplementing the diet with chelated zinc.
About the author:
Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh
Advice for a healthier natural life
website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com
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