I had a zinc thread on another board at one time. And I will use some of it
to construct this thread as well.

Zinc in general is just critical for health maintenance. And some drugs actually deplete it from us during therapy. ACE inhibitors used for blood pressure control and some congestive heart treatments, are main zinc depleters.
Hormone treatments (birth control pills), steroids, diuretics, some antiviral AIDS drugs, and acid lowering drugs for GERD are also common zinc depleters.

Zinc is essential for wound/skin lesion healing and maintenance. It is present in some nutritional supplements for acne, for example.
http://www.drugs.com/pdr/Nicomide_Tablets.html
Many people are familiar with Zinc Oxide (a diaper rash remedy)

In chronic care settings zinc sulfate along with Vit C are supplements used
to help control/heal bed sores and other wounds. (often the zinc used there is very high dose --OTC--but still ordered by physicians.)

Zinc is being explored in Alzheimer's as well:
http://www.alzinfo.org/research/causes/nongenetic/
But at this time details are not forthcoming as to the EXACT mechanisms of
zinc metabolism in the brain.

Zinc metabolism is deranged in a condition called Pyroluria. This is a liver
genetic error, where a by-product of heme (for hemoglobin) is produced in excess..called kryptopyrrole. This compound is not toxic in and of itself, but it complexes Vitamin B6 and zinc out of the blood and leads to excessive excretion in the urine, which leads to deficiency for patients. Supplementing these two nutrients corrects the neurological negative effects of their loss.

Zinc is essential for males...more so than females. But females need it for ovulation as well. Up to 5mg of zinc can be lost in seminal fluid for males. So many male vitamin preps are higher in zinc than traditional vitamin products.

Zinc is essential for immune support. People with chronic viral disease, need attention to it. Shingles and herpes especially. Zinc lozenges are commonly used for cold prevention, treatment. Cold-Eze is an example. Zinc is also in the Airborne remedy, and probably accounts for much of its minimal beneficial actions. Zinc used in nasal inhalers however, have shown negative effects, since topical application to mucous membranes in the nose can lead to loss of taste/smell.
Low levels of zinc in the blood can also be a predictor of loss of taste/smell
in certain patients.

Zinc supplements have changed over the years. And elemental concerns are also important to figure out dosing (as with magnesium and other minerals). We are lucky today to have some really good versions, to avoid the typical side effects of zinc-- which are nausea and vomiting. (a rather large deterent to use).

Later on in this thread, I will post papers, to illustrate the various important
findings for zinc. This post is just a brief overview.

I welcome comments and additions, as always.

Here are some links to zinc doses, data, depletions, etc:

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/

http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/supplements/zinc.html

Both of these links are excellent, and contain ALOT of useful information.

This site is very useful for bioavailility issues, toxicity, and general chemistry:
http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecf...no/v17je33.htm

Zinc/copper ratios should be tested by a physician before any HIGH dose
intervention is undertaken. Unlike magnesium, zinc tests are fairly reliable, easy and inexpensive. Zinc and copper balance each other out. If very high dose zinc is used, attention to copper content is important as it will fall.
Low copper usually manifests as anemia,but not always.

As with magnesium, elemental values, need to be understood:
for example: zinc gluconate (a common form found in stores) is 14% zinc. The rest is the gluconate portion. So a typical 50mg tablet would yield:
7mg of elemental zinc. So read labels carefully. Not all labels however, are
worded correctly, but times are changing with this and some are more accurate now.

The most common forms are zinc sulfate and zinc gluconate. However, there is a newer version, which has shown in some studies to be better absorbed and perhaps not affect iron to the same extent as the others. It is called
zinc monomethionine and is called OptiZinc by the companies that make it.
I suggest this form also because it appears to have the least effect on GI symptoms...very little if any nausea side effects. It is not expensive, but a bit harder to find on store shelves. Whole Foods has it, and also www.iherb.com
(I have purchased it at both places).
You can read more about it here:
http://www.advance-health.com/zinc.html

I am not going to duplicate the data here that is available at the websites, I have linked in this post.

Here is another site which has drug interactions included:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/Zinccs.html
There is also a nice bibliography at the end of this monograph.

I just found this statement on this website:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?t...rient&dbid=115
Also time of day administration can be important. Some studies show nighttime use is more effective than daytime.


The following posts will have papers, showing usefulness in certain conditions, that I have found over the years...........

We need therefore zinc to convert pyridoxine into the active form pyridoxal.

Here is another :
from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0409094643.htm
Use of zinc monomethionine (a newer version) can reduce or eliminate nausea side effects.

This article is interesting too:
http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/104/107231.htm

Zinc is a huge subject. Here is a link to over 100 pages about it at LEF.org
http://search.lef.org/search/default...s=1&QUERY=zinc

Interested readers can find enormous amounts of data on PubMed:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed
Just type in zinc and any qualifier you are interested in, into the keyword box.

Zinc and acne:
Minocycline upsets the bacteria in the GI tract and can lead to Candidiasis..something very hard to eradicate. Yeast overgrowth, then, can be avoided by trying zinc first. There will be fewer side effects of nausea, if zinc monomethionine is used.

Zinc is used in long term care facilities for wound repair:
It is an ingredient in Arginaid (by Resource) and in various ointments used
for healing.
Many of the acne products are mixtures of antioxidants and zinc. That is because zinc does not work ALONE. Vits A C E and the mineral selenium are also included.

Here is a very new paper on zinc and airway maintenance:
Here is a paper on improving healing following hip replacement:
I work often in long term care providers (nursing homes and hospice) so I was very impressed by this new article:
Used in this country typically is Arginaid brand.
example:
and this general paper:
People who are ill, typically do not have an appetite, and thus eat poorly.
Economics also drive this negative spiral. Many people of all ages do not
consume quality protein. If they take chronic doses of acid reducing drugs, they also limit zinc absorption, which is dependant on acid. So attention to
this mineral is very important from acne, so serious wound repair (from surgery or pressure sores, or trauma).

Great thread MrsD!

I just wanted to add that my son, who has severe reactions to gluten and other things, MUST have his zinc supp. to speed his healing when he is mistakenly glutened.

When we were first on his special diet, he did better with taking supplements almost every day. A couple of years into the diet, he seems only to need them two or three days per week. We are now four years in and I supplement him... maybe... once a week for insurance... and not at as high a level (about 1/2 of the usual dose).

When he gets 'contaminated' we do 25mg of B-complex, 25 mg of zinc and Evening Primrose Oil for 3 to 4 days. We always know when he is almost finished because he will (sorry) poop out tonnes of mucous (usually within 2 days)... Then we supp. for 2 more days after that just to help rebuild his stores. Then he seems fine.

Note: We are very low in refined sugar, using it only during holidays. I do supplement him during days of refined sugar intake and find that to be helpful too.

I'm not saying this is what everyone should do because my daughter doesn't seem to have the same requirement. But I wanted to make note so that other people would keep hope that they will also find their 'magic' combination. I feel very lucky to have found this for my son... although it helps me too, I've noticed.

Last note: Although he is does not seem autistic and I've not had him tested for pyrolles (when I read this stuff I always think I should get him tested for it though), he still seems to do very well on the same type of regimen suggested for these children.

Edit: I was just reading your magnesium thread and it prompted me to come back and post that I do give him epsom salt baths too during these more stressful 'dietary trials'. I do notice the difference between when he has them and when he doesn't.... So, in effect, I guess I'm supplementing his magnesium also.

your comments are always welcome here!

I have been looking around for other zinc data and found this:
Zinc improves diabetic neuropathy:
And here is a very new paper concerning low zinc levels and poor lung functions/asthma:
Here is a new paper suggesting use of zinc monomethionine:
The incidence of low zinc and inflammation in the elderly:
Here is another about zinc/elderly/immune functions:

The following studies indicate the best/worst bioavailable forms of zinc supplements. I came across these while researching zinc:

Zinc Picolinate was found to be the most bioavailable form of those tested in the following study:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

The following studies indicate zinc-methionine is less bioavailable than thought. The reason is purported that the bond between elemental zinc and methionine is too weak to remain stable:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...t_uids=2506318
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum

Full Text of PMID 10801947:
http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/130/5/1378S

The above study was published by this person:
http://nutrition.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lonnerdal.html

A “less technical” summary of zinc information and bioavailability may be found as follows (includes study references):
http://www.bulknutrition.com/i9_Zinc.html

West... that first study was done in 1987, long before zinc monomethionine was commonly available for humans. It was not evaluated at all in that study.

Zinc Picoloinate is also a good form, however, picolinic acid cannot be
tolerated by some patients...namely bipolars.

Zinc is absorbed throughout the GI tract...beginning in the stomach.
There are many sites in fact.
http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecf...no/v17je33.htm
This quoted PubMed abstract says:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum

Basically a chelate is better tolerated. That is true with other minerals.
They tend to be absorbed more efficiently with less side effects. Zinc can cause nausea/vomiting..so side effects are important.

I am not a fan of "bulk nutrition" sites... these are body building sites, and not written by professionals.

While the case against picolinic acid is weak...there are references to high intakes and negative effects for some patients:
from http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH...l?d=dmtContent
The amount in 200mcg(microgram) of chromium picolinate (which is usually cited as a common source of picolinic acid is much smaller than the 25 milligram amount of a standard zinc picolinate tablet. So since the newer zinc does not have this potential, and still shows good reports in most recent studies, I prefer recommending it.

People are still free to use the picolinate version if they choose. The chelates in general are better than the old "sulfate" form.

Did you look over this abstract that I included http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract, dated Jan. 1998, which has the following quote?

(I tend to not quote from linked abstracts and documents unless the interesting information is buried deep within.)

Your highlighted area of http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecf...no/v17je33.htm states, “however, the major site (of zinc absorption) is the second portion of duodenum”.

Per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duodenum, the function of the duodenum is…

Also, my impression from reading the full text version of PMID 10801947 http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/130/5/1378S was although it seems logical that the zinc-methionine complex should be highly absorbable, certain tests have not appeared to bear this out.

…

It’s really not that big of a deal to me, I just think it’s good to provide information and references from all angles (or conflicting studies) and people can then decide how to supplement based on their needs/preferences.

I always enjoy your weblinks. Keep them coming. Interpreting them sometimes is confusing...for everyone. Some studies are very technical, and some use medical jargon.

The word epithelial is not limited to only certain places. Epithelial cells are everywhere in the GI tract. They are the first cells, that separate the body
from the environment. They are part your skin and all mucous membranes.

Your first quote is confusing too. Since zinc chloride and zinc proprionate are not commonly available as supplements. The article would have been more interesting and useful if it compared zinc sulfate, zinc oxide and zinc monomethionine. These latter 3 are typically used in humans. Also often the differences in mineral absorption many be very small. Here is an example:
Calcium Citrate is advertised as "more absorbable"..and it is. By a couple of percentage points only compared to calcium carbonate. This may be in reality of little consequence to the body, when calcium is needed. What calcium citrate IS important for, is for patients who are prone to calcium oxalate kidney stones. But you don't see THAT advertised at all!

We are sort of stuck with the studies that exist because in the supplement world there is not alot of funding for anything! Much of what I see in studies for example comes from Europe...because in USA the drug companies do not want us to know about other ways of improving health, and federal funding was cut several years ago. Some universities still do studies but they are less common that drug company funded studies. Also some studies on minerals, vitamins concern ANIMALS, vet uses, because the food industry gives things to them in feed, to improve meat quanitity and quality. For example I see alot of poultry studies.

Zinc is awful to take in the wrong form. So if zinc monomethionine shares good absorption with others, and does not cause nausea/vomiting, well, I think that is a plus. Zinc Picolinate also is easier. I personally like the OptiZinc since it also includes a small amount of copper, to offset any changes to the copper/zinc ratios.