Zinc: Role in Immunity, Oxidative Stress and Chronic Inflammation.

Prasad Ananda S.
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care, 2009

Abstract

Purpose of review

Zinc is essential for multiple cellular functions including immunity. Many investigators have used zinc supplementation in an attempt to affect the outcome of various diseases. These efforts were aimed at either supporting immunity by zinc administration or correcting the zinc dependent immune functions in zinc deficient individuals.

Recent findings

In this review, recent findings of zinc supplementation in various diseases have been presented. Beneficial therapeutic response of zinc supplementation has been observed in the diarrhea of children, chronic hepatitis C, shigellosis, leprosy, tuberculosis, pneumonia, acute lower respiratory tract infection, common cold, and leishmaniasis. Zinc supplementation was effective in decreasing incidences of infections in the elderly, in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and decreasing incidences of respiratory tract infections in children. Zinc supplementation has prevented blindness in 25% of the elderly individuals with dry type of AMD. Zinc supplementation was effective in decreasing oxidative stress and generation of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in elderly individuals and patients with SCD.

Summary

Zinc supplementation has been successfully used as a therapeutic and preventive agent for many conditions. Zinc functions as an intracellular signal molecule for immune cells.

The best supplements with Zinc in Immune category:

• Zinc Picolinate, 100 Tablets (Solgar) - Zinc promotes healthy skin and supports normal taste and vision. It contains among others: Zinc.
• Immune Defence - Zinc Lozenges with Rosehip and Acerola - Your immune system needs daily support to stay in good form, to be able to fight off any pathogens trying to enter your system and to witstand the impact of stress on your body and mind. It contains among others: Zinc.
• L-OptiZinc, 30 mg, 100 Veg Capsules (Now Foods) - L-OptiZinc is a form of Zinc complexed with the amino acids Methionine. It contains among others: Zinc.
• Zinc, 50 mg, 250 Tablets (Now Foods) - Zinc is essential to the normal function of many organs and systems within the body including the skeletal, immune, neurological, and endocrine systems. It contains among others: Zinc.
• Zinc Picolinate, 50 mg, 120 Veg Capsules (Now Foods) - Zinc is essential to the normal function of many organs and systems within the body including the skeletal, immune, neurological, and endocrine systems. It contains among others: Zinc.

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