If all that comes to mind when you think of zinc is its role in helping you fight off the common cold, you’re missing out on what this powerful little mineral can do.
It plays an essential role in everything from wound healing to DNA creation to sexual health. It’s even vital to three of our five senses: sight, taste, and smell.
But believe it or not, until recently, we really didn’t fully understand how much zinc we should take every day.
Fortunately, a collaborative team of researchers has recently shed some light on how our bodies transport zinc to the cells. Their research is helping us better understand how zinc functions in the body and how to balance deficiency and overdose.
Researchers knew that a protein called serum albumin moves zinc around the body, but they weren’t sure where zinc and serum albumin bind. The research team identified that location using X-ray crystallography. However, they found something unexpected: in addition to the primary binding site, there were also several secondary binding sites. This suggested that the relationship between zinc and serum albumin was more complex than they expected.
This relationship is important because serum albumin isn’t the only protein that moves zinc around the body. It’s also the primary taxi service for things like hormones and fatty acids. If you overdo your zinc intake, serum albumin may struggle to carry your hormones. Conversely, if your fatty acid levels are too high, which can occur in people with diabetes or obesity, you may have trouble getting zinc where it needs to go.
Clearly, maintaining balance in the body is important. Understanding how minerals and molecules move through the body can help researchers pinpoint the cause when something goes off track.
When it comes to zinc, make sure you’re getting enough, but don’t overdo it. The best dosage range for regular supplement intake is 7.5 to 15 mg per day. I think it’s best to take extra zinc only when you suspect your immune system might need a boost, such as when you feel a cold coming on. For daily doses of zinc, I prefer zinc picolinate, which you can find in Super Immune QuickStart. This is the best-absorbed form for daily use. Each scoop of QuickStart has 7.5 mg of zinc.
If you’re coming down with a cold, my favorite product is Zinc Acetate. It contains zinc acetate, the best form for supporting immune function and fighting the common cold. However, follow the dosing instructions: no more than six lozenges per day, and don’t take them for more than six days in a row.
Yours for better health,
Frank Shallenberger, MD
REF: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161103124350.htm.