Immune support is the focus as we head into the cough, cold and ongoing covid seasons. Zinc is one of the most under-appreciated nutrients.
Zinc is an essential nutrient, meaning our bodies can’t produce it, so the only way to get zinc is through our food or by getting it in the form of a dietary supplement. The foods with the highest zinc concentration include oysters, meat, beans, and nuts.
Why is zinc so crucial to our system? It has many benefits, but some of the most important are its ability to heal and repair tissue, it supports the immune system, and its anti-inflammatory properties.
Gentlemen reading this article should note that zinc is vital for testosterone production.
Many prescription and OTC medications may deplete zinc from our systems including PPIs such as omeprazole, H2 blockers – Ranitidine and famotidine, NSAID’s – Ibuprofen, Corticosteroids – oral, topical & inhaled, Birth Control Pills, Diuretics – furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide, Antacids, ACE inhibitors – lisinopril and quinapril.
When taking these medications, it is essential to eat foods high in zinc or obtain zinc by taking a dietary supplement.
One reason you’ve heard about zinc over the last year is its importance in the fight against Covid. Taking zinc can stunt the viral replication of Covid. Zinc alone is beneficial for our immune system but having a zinc ionophore to help get zinc into the virus is helpful. A zinc ionophore is a product that helps to transport zinc across plasma membranes and into the virus. The non-prescription zinc ionophore that I recommend most is quercetin.
Three additional mechanisms that help zinc fight viruses include: zinc increases the cilia’s ability to clear the virus from the airway; zinc is essential for preserving tissue barriers; and zinc has anti-inflammatory activity. One of the side effects of both Covid-19 and zinc deficiency is the loss of taste.
How do I know I’m low on zinc? A blood test that measures micronutrients is an option, but it can be pretty expensive. An easy, inexpensive way to monitor zinc is to have the patient either dissolve a lozenge in their mouth or take 1-2 teaspoonfuls of a zinc solution. The patient gauges how the zinc product tastes in their mouth, which gives us an idea of their zinc status. If they have a strong metallic taste, they have sufficient levels. If they taste nothing or the solution tastes like water, they have very little zinc on board, and supplementation is warranted.
What is the best source of zinc? Food is the best way to improve overall zinc status. When food is not an option or doesn’t get it to the level we are looking for, supplementation becomes the alternative. Zinc has many dosage forms: capsules, tablets, lozenges, and solutions. Most multivitamins have a small amount as well.
Several salt forms of zinc supplementation are commercially available, including acetate, gluconate, picolinate, and sulfate. Zinc picolinate may be a more absorbable form of zinc, but there isn’t strong data to support this in humans. Lozenges are great because as your zinc status improves, you will know the presence of the metallic taste over time.
The benefits of zinc are many, and it is another tool for our fight against infections. So include zinc as part of your cough and cold and Covid-19 fighting products to make you the strongest, healthiest person going into the cold weather months.
Stop in or call Kims Pharmacy for further information. 828.452.2313
Originally published in Positively Haywood, October 2022