Sisu Zinc Citrate 30mg - 90 Caps

The Benefits of Taking Zinc

Zinc has a variety of functions within the body, the most significant of which, from a consumer's perspective, are general immune support and health of the prostate.

Zinc and the Immune System
Zinc helps drive many aspects of immunity, including the production of antibodies and T-cells as well as other blood cell activity. Studies show that animals deficient in zinc are unable to fight off assaults from bacteria, parasites and viruses. Humans deficient in zinc have been shown to catch more colds and develop more respiratory tract infections.

According to US National Institute of Health researcher Dr. Novera H. Spector, zinc appears to rejuvenate an aging immune system. It achieves this by helping to reverse deteriorating immune functions. After middle age, the thymus gland (an important player in immune response) begins to shrink. The thymus secretes thymulin, the hormone that stimulates production of T-cells. When the thymus gland shrinks, so does its output of thymulin.

In Italy, researchers studying aging mice found that low daily doses of zinc resulted in an 80 percent regrowth of the thymus and a significant increase in the hormones and T-cells that fight off infections.

A human study conducted by Nicola Fabris, Ph.D., of the Italian National Research Centre on Aging, produced similar results. After taking 15 mg of zinc daily, a small group of people over the age of 65 showed significant increases in their blood levels of hormones and active T-cells. These levels were equivalent to those normally seen in young people.

Zinc and the Prostate
The male prostate gland has a far greater concentration of zinc than any other gland in the body. A lack of zinc in the diet is believed to be responsible for prostatic infections (prostatitis) and increasing zinc intake can help cure chronic prostatitis. In a study conducted at the Centre for the Study of Prostatic Diseases at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Dr. Irving Bush and his colleagues found that 50 to 100 mg of zinc a day improved or completely eradicated symptoms of chronic prostatitis and BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlarged prostate).

Are You Deficient?
One of the first signs of zinc deficiency can be altered taste and smell.Zinc levels are decreased by diarrhea, kidney disease, liver disease, alcoholism and diabetes. Zinc is not absorbed when it is consumed with fibre, phytates (found in grains and legumes), hard water, calcium, copper and iron. Zinc is lost through perspiration so supplementation may be helpful for athletes, those who live in hot climates and those who regularly use saunas or steam rooms. Zinc is depleted by the following medications: oral contraceptives, some diuretics, ulcer medications, antiviral medication and some antibiotics. Much of our food is deficient in zinc due to poor soil levels of the mineral. Food processing techniques destroy zinc.