Zinc Triggers Body's Defenses
Cold sufferers take heart: A University of Florida study
offers new evidence that zinc—the latest rage in cold remedies—may provide
immediate protection against disease.
"We were startled that the response in people was so
dramatic and so rapid," said Robert J. Cousins, the Boston Family eminent
scholar of human nutrition with UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences. "It was amazing that the levels of the genetic material we were studying
went up after only one day on zinc supplements.
"This result suggests that part of the body's
protective system is very sensitive to zinc. Although more research is needed,
our findings are a major step toward proving that zinc supplements can help
fight infections and protect people against stress."
Cousins worked with former UF doctoral student Vicki
Sullivan on the research, which was published in the Journal of Nutrition last
April.
The study is the first to apply genetic fingerprinting
methods like those used in criminal and paternity investigations to
understanding how nutrients directly affect the inner workings of human immune
cells, Cousins said.
Cousins' research could lead to better tests for zinc
deficiency, which has been tied to decreased immunity in the United States and
to widespread infections in developing countries.
The
best source of zinc in the diet is meat, although the mineral also is present
in grain, beans and vegetables. "You can get a good amount of zinc through
a healthy diet, but zinc supplements are worth considering, especially for
people who don't include meat in their diet," Cousins said.
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Reprinted from the University of Florida Focus, University Of
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