Importance of Zinc
Aug 11, 2017
Introduction
Zinc is an essential mineral that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement.
Zinc is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. It is required for the catalytic activity of approximately 100 enzymes and it plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence and is required for proper sense of taste and smell. A daily intake of zinc is required to maintain a steady state because the body has no specialized zinc storage system
Several researches have been conducted using zinc on cold and flu. Findings showed that administration of zinc within 24 hours of onset of symptoms reduces the duration and severity of the common cold in healthy people. When supplemented zinc for at least five months, it shows to reduce cold incidence, school absenteeism and prescription of antibiotics in children.1
Reference
- Singh, M., & Das, R. R. (2011). Zinc for the common cold. The Cochrane Library.
