Zinc Supplement
What is Zinc?According to the National Institute of Health Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet:"Zinc is an essential mineral that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. Zinc is also found in many cold lozenges and some over-the-counter drugs sold as cold remedies. Zinc is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. 1) It is required for the catalytic activity of approximately 100 enzymes 2) Plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. 3) Supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence and 4) Is required for proper sense of taste and smell [9]. A daily intake of zinc is required to maintain a steady state because the body has no specialized zinc storage system." Zinc is the second most abundant trace element in the body after iron. Zinc Supplement - RDA RecommendationsThe recommendation of zinc intake is provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) at the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (formerly National Academy of Sciences).For those 19 years and older the RDA is: 11 mg for male 8 mg for female 11 mg for pregnant women 12 mg for lactating women
Zinc Deficiency
Zinc deficiency may contribute to
macular degeneration.
According to the Beaver Dam Eye Study, published in 1996, there is a link between low zinc intakes and risk of macular degeneration.Mares Perlman JA; Klein R; Klein BE; Greger JL; Brady WE; Palta M; Ritter LL. Association of zinc and antioxidant nutrients with age-related maculopathy. Arch Ophthalmol, 1996 Aug, 114:8, 991-7 According to the U.S. Federal government's National Eye Institute the Age-Related Eye Disease Study found that: "taking high levels of antioxidants and zinc can reduce the risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by about 25 percent." However one of the purposes of the Age Related Eye Disease Study 2 is to "Study the effects of reducing the zinc supplement in the original AREDS formulation on the development and progression of AMD." Many nutritionists have expressed concern over the high levels of zinc that were included in the original Age Related Eye Disease Study. Recently another study published in Experimental Eye Research, found that in their eye tissue samples, large amounts of zinc were found in the deposits that play a role in the development of macular degeneration. Zinc Foods
Good zinc food sources are:
1) Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food, 2) Red Meat 3) Poultry 4) Crab and lobster 5) Beans 6) Nuts 7) Whole grains and fortified breakfast cereals Vegans are especially at risk of zinc deficiency.
AREDS VitaminsThe Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) included high levels of zinc in their study. Here is the AREDS Vitamins Formula:The nutrients in the AREDS contained: 500 milligrams of vitamin C; 400 international units of vitamin E; 15 milligrams of beta-carotene; 80 milligrams of zinc as zinc oxide; and two milligrams of copper as cupric oxide (Copper was added to the AREDS formulations containing zinc to prevent copper deficiency, which may be associated with high levels of zinc supplementation). To learn more click here: AREDS Vitamins AREDS 2The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) is different from the original study in several ways.But one is to "evaluate the effects of reducing zinc in the original AREDS formulation on the development and progression of AMD." The original AREDS included 80 mg of zinc oxide that showed some benefits, but some participants also experienced some side effects. The AREDS2 formula for the treatment of macular degeneration reduced the amount of zinc oxide to 40 mg daily. The study is not yet completed so there are no results to post at this time. Eye VitaminsIt is usually not a good idea to take a zinc supplement by itself. Synthetic vitamins and minerals lack the co-factors that are necessary for the body to absorb and utilize the mineral or vitamin. However, taken in a whole food form with natural sources of mineral and vitamins, the body is better able to use the nutrients and benefit from them.If you are looking for a combination eye vitamin and a whole food vitamin that offers comprehensive antioxidant protection by the synergistic nature of quality zeaxanthin, lutein, bilberry, blueberry, pine bark, alpha lipoic acid, grape seed, carrot, broccoli and more with a complementary whole food vitamin that contains 15 mg of zinc in a daily serving click here: Vision Health Treatment Options & Nutrient Recommendations
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