Zinc in the diet and zinc supplementation has been found to be of value for a wide variety of diseases.  ADHD, Anorexia, Aphthous Stomatitis, Bone Loss, the Common Cold, Depression, the Fetal Heart, Growth, Diarrhea, Bladder Cancer, Head Injury, Macular Degeneration, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Taste Problems all have favorable studies.  However, in some cases only a single study has been done.

I have been unable to find any reports of harmful effects from supplemental zinc although zinc toxicity has been reported in many cases from swallowing zinc pennies (copper pennies are 90% zinc).  Also, unusually high doses of zinc, such as found in zinc smelting metal workers, can be toxic.  American children through age four are rarely deficient in zinc.  There is an ongoing debate in the scientific literature on whether zinc helps or worsens Alzheimer's disease.  Zinc looks like a good supplement, but I am waiting to see research on the Alzheimer's issue.  I do prescribe zinc for ADHD and I take it myself for the common cold.  Of course, a little zinc is in every multivitamin/mineral tablet of which I recommend one generic tablet every day.

Low Zinc Linked to Diabetes, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure: In a study of 3,575 urban and rural adults in India with 7-day food intake records and a physical exam with an ECG, researchers found lower dietary (<7 mg/day) and lower serum zinc associated with increase in coronary artery disease and diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and other factors. One-third of urban and one-quarter of rural adults had low intakes. High intakes (>15 mg/day) did best. Zinc levels are lower in individuals dying of heart attacks. Highly refined cereals have less zinc than traditional ones. Zinc is a co-factor for superoxide dismutase which is an intracellular antioxidant. Magnesium and chromium deficiency can further aggravate the damage to the pancreas and increase insulin resistance. Ram Singh, J Am Coll Nutr 17:564-70 ’98

Low Phytate Cereals No Benefit for Kids' Zinc or Iron: Extensive reduction in the phytate content of weaning cereals had little long-term effect on the iron and zinc status of Swedish infants. Effects of weaning cereals with different phytate contents on hemoglobin, iron stores, and serum zinc: a randomized intervention in infants from 6 to 12 mo of age. Lind T, Lonnerdal B, Persson LA, Stenlund H, Tennefors C, Hernell O. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Jul;78(1):168-75

Zinc & Iron Lower in Vegetarians: With elimination of meat and increased intake of phytate-containing legumes and whole grains, the absorption of both iron and zinc is lower with vegetarian than with nonvegetarian, diets. Article say problem in poorer countries but deficiencies not noted yet in vegetarians in advanced countries, although no data. Bioavailability of iron, zinc, and other trace minerals from vegetarian diets. Hunt JR. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Sep;78(3 Suppl):633S-639S

No Harm to Peripheral WBCs, Lymphocytes or Copper Levels: In a DB PC study of 19 weeks using 30 mg/day of zinc, no harm was found. The normal diet contains 10 mg/day and the US maximum guideline is 40mg/day. The standard multivitamin with minerals contains 15 mg. Zinc supplementation has no effect on circulating levels of peripheral blood leucocytes and lymphocyte subsets in healthy adult men. Bonham M, O'Connor JM, Alexander HD, Coulter J, Walsh PM, McAnena LB, Downes CS, Hannigan BM, Strain JJ. Br J Nutr. 2003 May;89(5):695-703, U Ulster

No Harm Zinc 30 mg/day or Chromium 400 microg/d: A DB PC Tunisian study of diabetes for 6 months found no harm individually or in combo although did decrease oxidative stress. USDA. Potential antioxidant effects of zinc and chromium supplementation in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Anderson RA, Roussel AM, Zouari N, Mahjoub S, Matheau JM, Kerkeni A. J Am Coll Nutr. 2001 Jun;20(3):212-8

Zinc Works as a Catalyst: More than 300 catalytically active zinc metalloproteins and more than 2000 zinc dependent transcription factors involved in gene expression of various proteins have been recognized. Prasad AS. Zinc and enzymes. In: Prasad AS, ed. Biochemistry of Zinc. New York: Plenum Press, 1993:17-53; Prasad AS. Zinc and gene expression. In: Prasad AS, ed. Biochemistry of Zinc: New York. Plenum Press, 1993:55-76.

General Health: 

ADHD, Anorexia, Aphthous Stomatitis, Bone Loss, the Common Cold, Depression, Growth, Diarrhea, Bladder Cancer, Head Injury, Macular Degeneration, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Taste Problems all have favorable studies.

ADHD: Zinc Helps Hyperactivity Somewhat: A large Turkish 12-week DB PC of 400 ADHD children with half given zinc sulfate 150 mg/day found the zinc group to do better in hyperactivity, impulsivity, and but not in inattention. Older children and those with high BMIs, low zinc, and low free fatty acids were especially helped.  However, full recovery occurred in only 28% of zinc vs. 21% of placebo. Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of zinc sulfate in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Bilici M, Yildirim F, Kandil S, Bekaroglu M, Yildirmis S, Deger O, Ulgen M, Yildiran A, Aksu H. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2004 Jan;28(1):181-90

Anorexia Nervosa Helped by Zinc in DB: A DB PC study of 100 mg/day in 36 hospitalized patients found patients on zinc had double the rate of weight gain in supplemented group! Int J Eat Disord 1994 Apr;15(3):251; Anorexia nervosa (AN) and zinc deficiency, found most frequently in young females, have a number of symptoms in common. These include weight loss, alterations in taste and appetite, depression, and amenorrhea. Approximately half of anorexia nervosa patients (ANs) are vegetarian (VANs), a practice that may increase their risk for zinc deficiency. This study compared the dietary intake of zinc and related nutrients in 9 outpatient VANs with that of 11 outpatient nonvegetarian patients with anorexia nervosa (NVANs). VANs reported significantly lower (p < .05) dietary intakes of zinc, fat, and protein, and a significantly higher (p < .05) intake of calories from carbohydrates than NVANs. There were no significant differences between the groups in dietary intake of calories, calcium, copper, iron, or magnesium. These findings indicate that zinc intake should be routinely assessed in VANs and that zinc supplementation of their diets may be indicated. Dietary zinc intake of vegetarian and nonvegetarian patients with anorexia nervosa.  Bakan R, Birmingham CL, Aeberhardt L, Goldner EM. Int J Eat Disord 1994 Sep;16(2):205-9; Anorexics were still low on zinc and folic acid after short-term refeeding. Int J Eat Disord. 2004 Mar;35(2):169-78

Aphthous Stomatitis Helped by Zinc: DB PC 40 patients given 220 mg Zinc sulfate per day for one month. Stomatitis improved first month and did not recur in treatment group. Effects of zinc treatment in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Orbak R, Cicek Y, Tezel A, Dogru Y. Dent Mater J. 2003 Mar;22(1):21-9.

Bone Loss Reduced by Zinc: DB study women US found adding Zinc 15mg/day, Manganese 5mg/day, and Cu 2.5/d definitely helped Calcium in reversing bone loss. J Nutr 1994 Jul;124(7):1060-4

Breast Fed Helped by Zinc Corrects Slowing Growth: Among breastfed infants, growth faltering in comparison with reference growth curves is common in both developing and developed countries. We performed a zinc supplementation trial in Paris, France, to find out whether such growth faltering is due to nutritional zinc deficiency. 57 breastfed infants aged 4-9 (mean 5.7) months were randomly assigned to receive either 5 mg zinc daily or a placebo for 3 months. Most of the infants were from low-income immigrant families and the majority were of African origin. Before supplementation there were no significant differences between the zinc and placebo groups in weight, length, or corresponding Z-scores for age. After 3 months' supplementation, the length-for-age Z-score had increased in the zinc group and fallen in the placebo group (.21 vs -0.13, p = 0.029). This difference was due mainly to greater linear growth of boys in the zinc than in the placebo group (6.0 vs 4.6 cm, p = 0.02). Weight gain was also significantly greater with zinc supplementation (1.64 vs 1.28 kg, p = 0.047). Among infants breastfed for longer than 4 months, decreases in growth velocity result partly from inadequate zinc intake. Lancet 1992 Sep 19;340(8821):683

Cancer of Bladder Recurrences Reduced: 65 patients with biopsy confirmed transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder enrolled in a randomized comparison of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) with or without percutaneous administration was also randomized by closed envelope to therapy with multiple vitamins in the recommended daily allowance (RDA) versus RDA multivitamins plus 40,000 units vitamin A, 100 mg. vitamin B6, 2,000 mg. vitamin C, 400 units vitamin E and 90 mg. zinc. The addition of percutaneous BCG did not significantly lessen tumor recurrence but recurrence after 10 months was markedly reduced in patients receiving megadose vitamins. The 5-year estimates of tumor recurrence are 91% in the RDA arm and 41% in the megadose arm J Urol 1994 Jan;151(1):21-6

Cancer: Breast Cancer Risk Lower with Raw Vegetables, Whole Graims, Folate, Zinc, Copper, Vitamin C: In Heidelberg, Germany, 310 breast cancer cases were matched to 353 controls. Intake of raw vegetables (highest vs. lowest quartile adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.51), total vegetables (OR = 0.62), and whole-grain (OR = 0.57) products was inversely associated with breast cancer risk. Adjusted ORs were as follows: vitamin C (OR = 0.49), folate equivalents (OR = 0.47), b-carotene (OR = 0.46), zinc (OR = 0.35), and copper (OR = 0.51). In contrast, no significant association with risk was seen for an increased intake of fruits, cooked vegetables, fiber, calcium, manganese, or iron. Raw and cooked vegetables, fruits, selected micronutrients, and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Germany. Adzersen KH, Jess P, Freivogel KW, Gerhard I, Bastert G. Nutr Cancer. 2003;46(2):131-7.

Cancer of Gallbladder and Cervix: Zinc, Se Low; Cu High: Two small studies same authors from India of 30 patients with each type of CA and 30 controls. Both studies similar findings: association between lower levels of Se, Zn, vitamin E, and risk of carcinoma of the gallbladder and suggest that Cu/Zn ratio could be a useful parameter in evaluating the patients of carcinoma of the gallbladder. Micronutrients, antioxidants, and carcinoma of the gallbladder. Shukla VK, Adukia TK, Singh SP, Mishra CP, Mishra RN. J Surg Oncol. 2003 Sep;84(1):31-5

Cancer: Zinc Deficiency May Link: Poor zinc nutrition may be an important risk factor in oxidant release and the development of DNA damage and cancer. Approximately 10% of the United States population ingests <50% of the recommended daily allowance for zinc, a cofactor in proteins involved in antioxidant defenses, electron transport, DNA repair and p53 protein expression. This study examined the effects of zinc deficiency on oxidative stress, DNA damage and the expression of DNA repair enzymes in primary human lung fibroblasts by the use of DNA microarrays. In study, zinc deficiency not only caused oxidative stress and DNA damage, but also compromised the cells' ability to repair this damage. UC Berkley, Zinc deficiency induces oxidative DNA damage and increases p53 expression in human lung fibroblasts. Ho E, Courtemanche C, Ames BN. J Nutr. 2003 Aug;133(8):2543-

Cancer of the Colon: Zinc Good, Heme Iron Bad: In a 15-year follow-up of 34,708 Iowa women ages 55-70, the risk of proximal colon cancer more than doubled across increasing categories of heme iron intake (meat), but risks for both proximal and distal colon cancer fell by more than 50% across categories on zinc intake. Heme iron, zinc, alcohol consumption, and colon cancer: Iowa Women's Health Study. Lee DH, Anderson KE, Harnack LJ, Folsom AR, Jacobs DR Jr. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004 Mar 3;96(5):403-7

Cough, Growth Helped by Zinc in Ecuadorian Children: DB ages 1-5 60 days 10 mg zinc helped decreased cough, upper respiratory secretions, fever. Eur J Clin Nutr 1996 Jan;50(1):42-6; Growth helped in Chilean infants

Crohn’s Helped by Zinc: Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1993 Jun;7(3):281-6

Depression: Zinc Reported to Help Depression in Very Small DB: In a 20-patient, 12-week Polish DB PC study of unipolar depression, half were given 25 mg/day of zinc in addition to their SSRI or tricyclic antidepressants. Data was analyzed on only 6 zinc and 8 placebo patients. At weeks 6 and 12, but not week 2, the zinc patients had significantly lower BDI and HAM-D depression scores. Krakow. Effect of zinc supplementation on antidepressant therapy in unipolar depression: a preliminary placebo-controlled study. Nowak G, Siwek M, Dudek D, Zieba A, Pilc A. Pol J Pharmacol. 2003 Nov-Dec;55(6):1143-7. Ed: This is far too small a study to jump to any conclusions. The authors note multiple studies showing depressed patients tend to be lower in zinc and animal models of depression being helped by zinc as an adjunct.

Depression: Zinc Low in Anorexics and Depression and Anxiety Lessened in DB: In a DB PC study of teen anorexics, zinc intake was found one-half that of controls and zinc excretion one-third that of controls. Those randomized to 50 mg/day zinc had a decrease in the level of depression and anxiety as assessed by the Zung Depression Scale (p less than 0.05) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (p less than 0.05). Stanford. Zinc deficiency in anorexia nervosa. Katz RL, Keen CL, Litt IF, Hurley LS, Kellams-Harrison KM, Glader LJ. J Adolesc Health Care. 1987 Sep;8(5):400-6

Depression: Zinc Levels Found Low: In a study measuring blood zinc levels in 48 depressed patients and 32 controls, zinc levels were found to be low in major depression but not in minor depression. There was no relationship between zinc and anorexia or weight loss. Case Western. Hypozincemia in depression. Maes M, D'Haese PC, Scharpe S, D'Hondt P, Cosyns P, De Broe ME. J Affect Disord. 1994 Jun;31(2):135-40

Diaper Rash: Eosin Better Than Zinc: Eosin commonly used in Europe for diaper rash but not in US. DB found Eosin did much better than zinc or corticosteroid creams. Dermatology 1999;199(4):319-22

Diarrhea in Children Helped by Zinc: It reduces the incidence and duration of acute and chronic diarrhea and acute lower respiratory tract infections in children in developing countries, resulting in decreased mortality. Sazawal S, Black RE, Bhan MK, Bhandari N, Sinha A, Jalla S. Zinc supplementation in young children with acute diarrhea in India. N Eng J Med 1995; 338: 839-844.

Diarrhea in Children in India Helped by Zinc: DB 6-36 mo olds with severe diarrhea helped. Benefit usually rapid if diarrhea due to Zn deficiency. N Engl J Med 1995 Sep 28;333; Similar 100 child DB PC study from India. Pediatrics. 2003 Dec;112(6 Pt 1):1327-32; Similar 799 child DB PC Bangladesh study with iron plus zinc better than either alone. J Nutr. 2003 Dec;133(12):4150-7

Diarrhea (Infectious) Reduced by Zinc: DB PC children <5yo Brazil. Similar findings in Bangladesh and above Indian studies. Zinc supplementation in Brazilian children with acute diarrhea. Al-Sonboli N, Gurgel RQ, Shenkin A, Hart CA, Cuevas LE.

Diarrhea, Pneumonia in Infants Helped in Review: In six of nine trials that evaluated prevention of diarrhea, significantly lower incidence of diarrhea occurred in the zinc group than in the controls; a pooled analysis demonstrated 18% (95% confidence interval, 7-28%) less diarrhea. In five trials, a lower rate of pneumonia infection was found in the zinc-supplemented groups, and there was some indication of a preventive effect in three trials with a clinical malaria outcome. Zinc was also found to have a therapeutic benefit in seven trials of acute diarrhea and five of persistent diarrhea. Studies to evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on mortality are under way, but a recently published study from India identified a 68% reduction in mortality in small-for-gestational-age term infants that were supplemented with zinc from 1 to 9 mo of age. Johns Hopkins, Zinc deficiency, infectious disease and mortality in the developing world. Black RE. J Nutr. 2003 May;133(5 Suppl 1):1485S-9S

Eczema, Tinnitis Zinc No Help: Eur J Clin Nutr 1991 Oct;45(10):507; Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1991 Aug;100(8):647

Exercise Oxidative Radicals Reduced by Zinc: Zn 25 mg BID plus CU 1.5 BID for six days blocked increased in ox radicals in runners. J Appl Physiol 1994 Jun;76(6):2298-303

Fetal Heart Helped by Zinc: In a DB PC study of 242 low-income Peruvian women, beginning at 10 to 16 weeks' gestation, women received supplements containing 60 mg iron, 250 microg folic acid with or without 25 mg zinc. Zinc supplementation was associated with lower fetal heart rate, greater number of accelerations, and greater heart rate variability, all good effects. No differences in motor activity were observed. Randomized controlled trial of prenatal zinc supplementation and the development of fetal heart rate. Merialdi M, Caulfield LE, Zavaleta N, Figueroa A, Dominici F, Dipietro JA. Johns Hopkins University. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Apr;190(4):1106-12. 

General Health in Ethiopian Kids Helped by Zinc: DB study stunted and non-stunted breast-fed 6-12 mo old kids in area with low dietary Zinc found increased weight and length and decreased anorexia, diarrhea, cough, fever, and vomiting. Lancet 2000 Jun 10;355(9220):2021-6

Growth Retardation in French Children Helped by Zinc: DB French study 24 kids. Found increased rate of growth. : Biol Trace Elem Res 1995 Apr;48(1):31-6

Growth in Children Helped in Meta-analysis: Dietary zinc deficiency is very prevalent in the developing world (affecting nearly two billion people), where mainly cereals are consumed by the population. A meta-analysis of 33 prospective intervention trials of zinc supplementation and its effects on children's growth in many countries showed that zinc supplementation alone had a statistically significant effect on linear growth and body weight gain, indicating that other deficiencies that may have been present were not responsible for growth retardation. Brown KH, Peerson JM, Rivera J, Allen LH. Effect of supplemental zinc on the growth and serum zinc concentrations of prepubertal children: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr 2002; 75: 1062-1071

Growth Retarded Children Helped by Zinc & Calcium with Vitamins: 156 growth retarded kids under 5 years old with 34 controls in a DB PC study with 5 groups: Placebo, Zinc, Zn+Calcium, ZnCa+Vit, Ca+Vit. 12 months. Zinc and Zinc + Calcium supplementation can improve the height gain, and vitamin A can improve weight gain in growth retarded preschool children, but do not affect the maturity of bone. Effect of micronutrient supplementation on the growth of preschool children in China. Yang YX, Han JH, Shao XP, He M, Bian LH, Wang Z, Wang GD, Men JH. Biomed Environ Sci 2002 Sep;15(3):196-202

Head Injury Recovery Helped by Zinc: Zinc supplementation during the immediate postinjury period is associated with improved rate of neurologic recovery and visceral protein concentrations for patients with severe closed head injury. J Neurotrauma 1996 Jan;13(1):25-34

Herpes Labialis Helped by Zinc Sulfate Cream: German study DB. Faster healing and fewer symptoms and superinfections.  Arzneimittelforschung 1995 May;45

Impetigo Increased by Zinc!: The zinc supplemented group had more impetigo. Impaired ability of monocytes against yeast. Acta Paediatr 1993 Sep;82(9):734-

Low Birth Weight Reduced by Zinc: Zinc supplement (22.5 mg daily) or placebo. Twenty-nine of the women were compliant. Zinc significantly reduced the incidence of intrauterine growth retardation, and most measured indices of labour and fetal health were better in the supplemented group. Eur J Clin Nutr 1991 Mar;45(3):139

Macular Degeneration Helped by Zinc: In double blind clinical trial including 3,640 elderly participants, researchers showed that antioxidants and zinc supplements delayed progression of age related macular degeneration and reduced the risk of loss of vision. Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group (AREDS) Report No. 8. A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss. Arch Ophthalmol 2001; 119: 1417-1436

Neuropsychiatric in Chidlren Helped by Zinc: Zinc supplementation has been shown to improve neuropsychological functions in Chinese children with zinc deficiency. Sandstead HH, Penland JG, Alcock NW, Dayal HH, Chen XC, Li JS, et al. Effects of repletion with zinc and other micronutrients on neuropsychologic performance and growth of Chinese children. Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 68(2 suppl): S470-S475

Pneumonia in Infants Helped by Zinc: In a DB PC study of 270 children under 2 hospitalized with pneumonia, zinc (20 mg per day) reduced duration of severe pneumonia (relative hazard [RH]=0.70), including duration of chest indrawing (0.80), respiratory rate more than 50 per min (0.74), and hypoxia (0.79), and overall hospital duration (0.75). The mean reduction was 1 hospital day for both severe pneumonia and time in hospital. Zinc for severe pneumonia in very young children: double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Brooks WA, Yunus M, Santosham M, Wahed MA, Nahar K, Yeasmin S, Black RE. Bangladesh. Lancet. 2004 May 22;363(9422):1683-8

Pneumonia and Diarrhea Reduced in Children: In a 12-month DB PC study of 1665 poor, urban children up to age 5, zinc (70 mg) once weekly led to significantly fewer incidents of pneumonia (199 vs 286; relative risk 0.83), and a small but significant effect on incidence of diarrhea (1881 cases vs 2407; 0.94). There were two deaths in the zinc group and 14 in the placebo group (p=0.013). There were no pneumonia-related deaths in the zinc group, but ten in the placebo group (p=0.013). The zinc group had a small gain in height, but not weight at 10 months compared with the placebo group. Effect of weekly zinc supplements on incidence of pneumonia and diarrhea in children younger than 2 years in an urban, low-income population in Bangladesh: randomised controlled trial. Brooks WA, et al. International Centre for Diarrhea Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh. . Lancet. 2005 Sep 17;366(9490):999-1004.

Pregnancy: Zinc Helps: Zinc deficiency in pregnant women causes abnormal labor, retarded fetal growth, and fetal abnormalities. Zinc deficiency is also common in elderly people. J Clin Invest 1988;82:1202-10. Zinc decreases the copper burden in humans; as such it has been used effectively to treat Wilson's disease.

Pregnancy with Low Zinc Helped by Supplement: In a DB study of 508 poor women with below median Zinc levels, women had heavier babies after 25 mg/day of supplemental zinc. JAMA 1995 Aug 9;274(6):463-8

Psoriasis Not Helped by Zinc: DB study, Netherlands. Cutis 1994 Aug;54(2):117-8

Pre-Natal Zinc No Impact on Mental & Psychomotor Development: In a DB PC study of 355 pregnant women treated with 25 mg/day of zinc from mid-pregnancy, no impact was found on test scores on the children at 5.3 years of age. Effect of zinc supplementation of pregnant women on the mental and psychomotor development of their children at 5 y of age. Tamura T, Goldenberg RL, Ramey SL, Nelson KG, Chapman VR. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Jun;77(6):1512-6.

Pre-Terms Grow Better with Zinc: In a DB PC study of 34 infants given 10 mg/L extra zinc vs. standard formula, beneficial effects on growth were found. Spain. The effect of zinc supplementation on linear growth, body composition, and growth factors in pre-term infants. Diaz-Gomez NM, Domenech E, Barroso F, Castells S, Cortabarria C, Jimenez A. Pediatrics 2003 May;111(5 Pt 1):1002-9

Radiation Damage in Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Diminished by Zinc Sulfate: In a DB PC study of 30 patients undergoing radiation treatment, those given zinc had significantly less mucositis. Turkey. Zinc sulfate in the prevention of radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis: a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized study. Ertekin MV, Koc M, Karslioglu I, Sezen O. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004 Jan 1;58(1):167-74

Respiratory Infections in Infant Boys Helped by Zinc, Not Vitamin A: In a DB PC study in India of 254 infants 2-24 months with acute severe respiration illness, Zinc 10 mg/day helped decrease fever and severity in boys considerably but not girls, while vitamin A had no effect. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the efficacy of treatment with zinc or vitamin A in infants and young children with severe acute lower respiratory infection. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Mar;79(3):430-6

Rheumatoid Arthritis Helped by Supplemental Zinc, Crypto-Xanthin: An 11 year follow-up study by the Mayo Clinic of 29,385 adults found certain antioxidant micronutrients, particularly beta-cryptoxanthin (RR=.59) and supplemental zinc (RR=.39), and possibly diets high in fruits and cruciferous vegetables(RR=.65), may be protective against the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Antioxidant micronutrients and risk of rheumatoid arthritis in a cohort of older women. No association with total carotenoids, alpha- or beta-carotene, lycopene, or lutein/zeaxanthin. Cerhan JR, Saag KG, Merlino LA, Mikuls TR, Criswell LA. Am J Epidemiol 2003 Feb 15;157(4):345-54

Schizophrenia: Zinc Lower, Copper Higher in Criminal Schizophrenics: Turkish 44 criminal schizophrenics vs. 44 non-criminal schizophrenics found blood zinc and copper concentrations higher in criminal schizophrenic men. Tokdemir M, Polat SA, Acik Y, Gursu F, Cikim G, Deniz O. Arch Androl. 2003 Sep-Oct;49(5):365-8

Taste Problems Reduced by Zinc: A Japanese DB study of those with zinc deficiency and idiopathic taste disorder. Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho 1995 Jul;98(7):1135

Taste Problems Helped by Zinc: University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany; J Dent Res. 2005 Jan;84(1):35-8. Ed: I don’t know if these were zinc lozenges or zinc tablets, which would be less expensive.  I suspect it was the tablets.

Ulcers: Zinc acexamate Decreases NSAID Ulcers: DB 276 rheumatoid arthritis patients with peptic ulcer disease from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or intolerance. Zinc Acexamate decreased ulcers by 92%! : J Rheumatol 1994 May;21(5):927-33

Zinc Nasal Gel May Cause Loss of Smell: Class action suit in 2006.

Thomas E. Radecki, M.D., J.D.

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