Zinc deficiency symptoms
Zinc deficiency is usually due to inadequate dietary intake, but malabsorption and chronic diseases such as diabetes, malignant tumors (cancer), liver disease, and sickle cell disease may be the cause.
Signs of zinc deficiency include:
- Anorexia
- Anemia
- slow wound healing
- Skin diseases such as acne or eczema
- Diarrhea
- hair loss
Zinc deficiency during pregnancy may increase the chances of a difficult or prolonged delivery.
Zinc pills benefits
Zinc pills are a vital source of a healthy immune system, promoting healthy childhood growth, wound healing, and other benefits including:
- Boosting immunity: Zinc pills help the body’s T cells in two ways:
- Control and regulation of immune responses
- Attacking infected or cancerous cells
According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people with zinc deficiency have an increased sensitivity to a variety of pathogens.
- Diarrhea treatment: Studies have shown that taking zinc tablets for 10 days is effective in treating diarrhea and also helps prevent future attacks.
- Effects of zinc on learning and memory: Studies have shown that zinc has a critical role in regulating how neurons communicate with each other, affecting how memories are formed and how we learn.
- Wound healing: Zinc plays a role in maintaining the integrity and structure of the skin, especially in patients with chronic wounds or ulcers who often have zinc deficiency and low zinc levels in the blood.
- Reduced risk of age-related chronic diseases: A study found that taking zinc pills may reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases.
- Preventing age-related macular degeneration (AMD): Zinc pills prevent cellular damage in the retina, helping to delay the development of AMD and vision loss, according to a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology.
- Zinc and fertility: People who take zinc pills have higher sperm counts, and a study has shown that zinc deficiency may be a risk factor for low sperm quality and male infertility.
- Reducing the symptoms of the flu: Zinc pills will reduce the symptoms of the common influenza virus, as zinc contains antivirals against the herpes virus.
- Acne treatment: Zinc sulfate helps treat acne.
Adequate zinc intake is especially important for children because mild zinc deficiency can stunt growth, increase the risk of infection, and increase the risk of diarrhea and respiratory disease.
