Low Zinc Symptoms: Signs, Causes & How to Support

Zinc is one of 16 essential trace minerals your body needs for optimal health. Next to iron, it is the most abundant mineral in your body and is found in almost every cell. Zinc is central to the proper functioning of more than 300 enzymes and is essential for proper growth and development.

Because Zinc is incorporated into about 10% of all human proteins and participates in virtually every metabolic process, even mild deficiency can produce wide-ranging effects. For more than 50 years, it has been known that Zinc deficiency compromises immune function — and the symptoms extend far beyond susceptibility to infection.

Low Zinc symptoms are characterized by growth retardation, loss of appetite, and impaired immune function. In more severe cases, Zinc deficiency causes hair loss, diarrhea, delayed sexual maturation, impotence, hypogonadism in males, and eye and skin lesions. In older adults, Zinc deficiency can delay wound healing and cause problems with thinking, reasoning, and memory. Zinc deficiency at any age can also cause a loss of taste and smell.

Dietary Zinc deficiency is quite common in the developing world, affecting an estimated 2 billion people. While overt Zinc deficiency in North America is not common, the symptoms of mild deficiency are diverse due to Zinc's ubiquitous involvement in metabolic processes. Research shows that 35%–45% of adults aged 60 years or older had Zinc intakes below the estimated average requirement, and even when supplemental intake was considered, 20%–25% of older adults still had inadequate Zinc intakes.

Certain groups of people may be more susceptible to developing low Zinc symptoms. These include people who have had gastrointestinal surgery such as weight loss surgery, those with digestive disorders like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, vegetarians, alcoholics, and individuals with sickle cell disease. Children with inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and those receiving long-term proton pump inhibitor treatments are particularly susceptible.

Vegetarians may need up to 50% more Zinc than non-vegetarians. This is because Zinc bioavailability from plant-based diets is lower due to phytic acid content, which inhibits Zinc absorption. A Zinc absorption of only 10–15% is estimated from diets containing mainly unrefined cereal grains or legumes with negligible amounts of animal proteins, compared with 30–50% from diets rich in animal foods.

Low levels of Zinc have been detected in people with a number of conditions including diabetes, eating disorders, male infertility, diarrhea, and osteoporosis. Zinc supplementation may be beneficial in these cases.

Men may be particularly affected by low Zinc symptoms in two key areas. The hormone testosterone requires Zinc for its production — infertility resulting from low testosterone levels may respond to increased Zinc intake. Additionally, symptoms resulting from an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may also be relieved with additional Zinc, as the healthy prostate accumulates the highest concentration of Zinc of any tissue in the body.

Understanding why low Zinc symptoms are so varied requires looking at the sheer scope of Zinc's involvement in human biology. Zinc is required for the activity of more than 300 enzymes, covering all six classes of enzymes. These metalloenzymes engage in all metabolic processes — proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and nucleic acids.

Zinc plays structural roles through "Zinc finger" proteins — sequences that enable transcription factors to bind to DNA — influencing gene expression throughout the body. The body also uses Zinc to make DNA and proteins, stabilize the DNA double helix, and facilitate cell division.

Immune regulation: Virtually all aspects of innate and adaptive immunity are affected by Zinc. A network of transport and storage proteins tightly regulates Zinc availability, and deficiency alters the number and function of neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, T cells, and B cells. Zinc also functions as an anti-inflammatory agent by reducing production of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta, and it protects immune cells against oxidative stress.

Hormonal interactions: There are numerous physiologically relevant interactions between Zinc and various hormones, including testosterone, adrenal corticoids, insulin, and growth hormone. Production, storage, secretion, and hormone-receptor interactions can all be involved. Zinc deficiency in adult men causes hypogonadism at the testicular level — the signaling from the pituitary gland may be normal, but the testes simply cannot respond properly without adequate Zinc.

Thymic function: Zinc is required as a cofactor for thymulin, the only thymic-specific hormone, whose biological activity is entirely dependent on Zinc binding. Zinc deficiency reduces serum thymulin activity, impairs T-cell subpopulations, and diminishes lymphokine production.

Take one (1) tablet daily with meals. Store in a cool, dry place and away from direct light.

Each tablet contains 20 mg of OptiZinc®. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Zinc is 8 mg/day for women and 11 mg/day for men. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level for adults is 40 mg/day.

This product is gluten free, dairy free, soy free, and grain free.

Be aware that taking supplements containing a substantial amount of iron (25 mg or more) at the same time as Zinc supplements can reduce Zinc absorption. Zinc may also interact with certain medications, including quinolone antibiotics, tetracycline antibiotics, and penicillamine — if you take these medications, separate your Zinc supplement dose by at least 1 to 2 hours.