Zinc is an essential mineral that is found in every cell in our body. It stimulates the activity of about 100 enzymes, substances that promote biochemical reactions in your body.
Among its many functions, zinc helps maintain a healthy immune system, is needed for wound healing, helps maintain your sense of taste and smell, and is needed for DNA synthesis. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence, and helps sperm develop and is needed for ovulation and fertilization, according to livestrong.com.
Growth and Development
Zinc can benefit patients with sickle cell anemia who characteristically suffer from delayed growth and development. A study led by Dr. Babette S. Zemel of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania showed that children with sickle cell anemia experience increased growth and development compared to a group not given zinc supplements. There is also speculation that sickle cell anemia is associated with zinc deficiency, according to livestrong.com.
Pregnancy
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, an estimated 82 percent of pregnant women worldwide are likely to suffer from a zinc deficiency. This may be because more zinc is required during pregnancy to ensure the natural health and development of the fetus. Zinc deficiencies in pregnant women may play a role in a number of adverse outcomes of pregnancy, including low birth weight, premature birth, delivery complications, and congenital abnormalities. Adequate zinc intake in women during pregnancy may reduce the risk of these complications.
Reproduction
In males, zinc assists in spermatogenesis and the development of the sex organs, while in females, zinc aids in all the reproductive phases, including the parturition and lactation stages. When it comes to sperm, zinc acts in a number of ways. The zinc also protects the reproductive DNA inside the sperm from breaking down, so a correct transference of information is guaranteed. Zinc is an essential part of the enzymes that allow sperm to penetrate the egg.
Antioxidant
Zinc acts as an antioxidant and is involved in some of the biochemically decisive reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, enzymatic function and carbohydrate metabolism.
Cancer
In males, zinc plays a vital role in the prostate gland and prevents premature damage or strain, which can lead to problems like cancer. The natural antioxidant properties of zinc mean that it actively seeks out free radicals, the hazardous byproducts of cell metabolism that can cause a number of diseases. Free radicals can morph normal cells into cancerous cells by breaking down the DNA integrity so the elimination of free radicals by antioxidants is one of the most vital lines of defense against many kinds of cancer.
Mood
According to a 2010 study published by the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition," zinc supplementation may improve mood in women, and may even be an effective treatment for depression in women. In the study, women who supplemented with 7 mg of zinc daily for 10 weeks showed a significant reduction in anger and depression and scored higher on a Profile of Mood State exam as compared to women who took a placebo and women who took multivitamin containing zinc.