When the word “zinc” is mentioned, you’ll most likely be reminded of a nutrient that’s found in many food choices or added to supplements. This mineral is stored and utilized in your muscles, bones, skin, liver, brain, kidneys, spleen, and pancreas.¹

Over the years, researchers have conducted studies highlighting their potential benefits on various aspects of the human body. Lucky for us, the results are promising. Learn more about the health benefits of zinc in this article, and how and where you can get this mineral.

What Does Zinc Do to Your Body?

As mentioned, studies have linked zinc to multiple benefits for your body. Take a closer look at some of this mineral’s well-known benefits here:²

1. Help promote improved immunity: Zinc is renowned for its antioxidant properties that may help shield your body’s cells from the harmful effects of free radicals.³ Authors of a 2017 study noted that this particular mineral may help maintenance of proper membrane barrier structure and function.
   
   If there isn’t enough zinc in the body, this may lead to multiple damage in epidermal cells and linings in the gastrointestinal and pulmonary tracts. These events may then cause pathogens to enter the body and trigger many health issues.⁴
2. Aid in boosting skin health: This mineral plays a big role in your skin’s health as it may help impact both the structure and function of skin and mucous membranes, and facilitate collagen metabolism.
   
   Moreover, zinc may even influence your skin’s immune function, especially by regulating inflammatory cytokines. As a result, this mineral may play a role in limiting UV radiation-induced damage that can severely affect the skin and other body parts of the body.
   
   For many years, zinc has also been utilized to help address skin infections like warts, acne vulgaris (pimples), rosacea, atopic dermatitis, and even pigmentary disorders like melasma. Lastly, zinc is also known for its potential to help speed up the wound healing process in your body.⁵
    
3. Assist with better bone health: Some experts have pointed out that low levels of zinc in the body may cause “impaired skeletal development and bone growth in humans.”⁶ This may cause bone problems in the long run if left unaddressed.
   
   Moreover, oral intake of a type of zinc called zinc acexamate may help alleviate bone loss that’s connected to various health conditions like aging, calcium and/or vitamin D deficiency, diabetes, and fracture healing, to name a few.⁷

What Happens if You Don’t Get Enough Zinc?

Fortunately, experts have noted that the chances of a healthy and immunocompetent person having a zinc deficiency are low, given that this mineral is abundant in a lot of food options that people eat. However, this does not mean that the coast is clear. Do remember that there are some groups who are at risk for a zinc deficiency, such as:^8,9

• Pregnant women: Nutritional requirements increase during pregnancy in order to support both the mother’s health and baby’s growth and development. If there’s a lack of zinc in the body, this may lead to negative impacts for both mom and baby. 
• Breastfed babies: Zinc can be transferred to a mother’s breast milk through various processes. Researchers discovered a link between zinc concentrations in breast milk and plasma zinc concentrations in moms. As such, the incidence of a zinc deficiency in a baby may be connected to a breastfeeding mom’s zinc levels. More importantly, they also highlighted that exclusively breastfed infants aged 4 to 6 months whose moms were zinc-deficient had a higher chance for a deficiency related to this mineral.¹⁰
• Vegans: A plant-based diet may lead to phytic acid absorption. This causes the formation of insoluble compounds together with zinc and eventually, decreased zinc absorption in the small intestine.
• People who take diuretics: These drugs may prompt zinc excretion from the body.
• People diagnosed with inflammatory bowel diseases: These particular health issues may lead to weakened zinc absorption. Moreover, a zinc deficiency may prompt increases in pro-inflammatory cells, trigger an inflammatory response, and cause intestinal inflammation.¹¹
• People diagnosed with liver diseases like liver cirrhosis: Given that the liver is mainly responsible for zinc deficiency, a lack of this nutrient may influence liver function.¹²
• People diagnosed with chronic kidney disease: Authors of a 2021 study noted that zinc levels decreased among people whose chronic kidney disease had progressed. Zinc levels are also low among people who undergo dialysis due to “zinc removal” during the procedure, insufficient dietary zinc intake, and malabsorption or failure of the body to process this mineral.¹³
• People who underwent bariatric surgery: One study noted that obese people who underwent bariatric surgery are more likely to deal with zinc deficiency. Study authors recommended that people under this group have their zinc levels assessed and take zinc supplements.¹⁴

Some symptoms of this health issue include appetite and weight loss, slower wound healing, and reduced immune system function. If left unaddressed, this health issue may cause severe symptoms like hair loss, diarrhea, impotence, skin ulcers, vision-related problems, and more.^15,16 
To prevent a zinc deficiency from affecting you, consult your doctor or health professional on the ideal amount of zinc you’ll need depending on your health status. 

For Your Zinc Needs, Count on Your Diet and This Supplement 

Making sure your body gets enough zinc each day can go a long way. This mineral can be obtained via your diet, as it’s found in shellfish like oysters, crab, and lobster, beef, poultry, pork, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. 

However, if you’re worried that you’re not meeting the daily recommended requirements for zinc, ask your doctor about Pharex E-Zinc® EZTab®. This chewable, apple-flavored tablet has zinc citrate trihydrate that may be easily absorbed by your body, and assists in improving immune function, physical growth and development. 

This supplement may help adults get their daily zinc requirements that tend to vary depending on one’s age and gender. For instance, in people 19 years older and above, men would need at least 11 mg of zinc daily, while women require at least 8 mg daily. Meanwhile, pregnant and lactating women may need 11 mg and 12 mg of this mineral, respectively.

Pharex E-Zinc® EZTab® is available in all leading drugstores and pharmacies nationwide, and online on Lazada and Shopee.

¹ Nutrients, January 2021
² Intestinal Research, January 2021
³ Nutrients, January 2021
⁴ Inflammopharmacology, 2017
⁵ Nutrients, January 2021
⁶ Materials (Basel), May 2020
⁷ Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, December 25, 2009
⁸ "Zinc," Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
⁹ National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, September 28, 2022
¹⁰ Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2015;24(2):273-280
¹¹ Medicine, April 2019
¹² Annals of Hepatology, Volume 15, Issue 1, 2016, Pages 7-16
¹³ PLoS ONE, May 11, 2021
¹⁴ BMC Endocrine Disorders, 2021
¹⁵ "Zinc," Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
¹⁶ VeryWell Health, June 22, 2022