Zinc

Older people, anyone on a restricted diet and people with colds may wish to take a zinc supplement. Enlargement of the prostate gland can be improved by consuming extra zinc. Zinc also helps to maintain healthy skin, reproductive function in men and women, wound healing and normal growth in children.

Healthilife Zinc 15mg x 90 50% Off Was £2.89

£1.47

Think Natural Zinc Gluconate 10mg 100s

£1.93

Lifeplan Zinc (Gluconate) 10mg 100 tablets

£2.69

Lifeplan Zinc Citrate 15mg 90 Tablets

£3.26

Think Natural Zinc Gluconate 10mg 300s

£4.69

Vega Vitamins and Herbal Zinc Citrate 50mg 60s

£6.45

HealthAid Zinc Sulphate 200mg 90s

£6.99

HealthAid Calmagzinc 90 Tablets

£7.14

Vega Zinc C Formula plus Green Tea, 30's

£8.09

Vega Zinc Citrate Strong 50mg 120's

£11.05

Vega Zinc C Formula plus Green Tea, 60's

£14.05

Zinc is the second most abundant trace element in the body, with a total body content of about 2 grams. It is a cofactor in many biological processes including DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. About 30% of cellular zinc is found within the nucleus. A large number of proteins that play a role in the regulation of gene expression are thought to contain zinc. Zinc also plays a role in immune function, wound healing, reproduction, growth and development, behaviour and learning, taste and smell, blood clotting, thyroid hormone function, and insulin action. Zinc is found in more than 300 enzymes , 100 of which depend on zinc as a catalyst. Zinc is also required in hepatic synthesis of retinol binding protein, the transport protein of vitamin A. Without adequate zinc, symptoms of vitamin A deficiency can appear, despite vitamin A supplementation. Zinc is found predominantly in animal foods, such as dairy, seafood and meat as well as plant sources, nuts, grains and seeds. Deficiency symptoms include low insulin levels, poor growth, anorexia, mental lethargy, irritability, low sperm count, generalized hair loss, rough and dry skin, skin lesions, slow wound healing, decreased thyroid function, delayed onset of puberty, poor sense of smell and taste, diarrhoea, and nausea. People who suffer from dry skin, middle-aged men and vegetarians and vegans are most likely to supplement with zinc. The Recommended Daily Allowance of zinc is 15mg daily. This level is also the Upper Safe Level. Therefore be careful not to overdose on this trace element.