Other vitamins and nutrients may get more headlines, but the experts will tell you that as many as two billion people worldwide have diets deficient in zinc and/or copper. Studies at Oregon State University and elsewhere are raising concerns about the health implications this holds for immune function, DNA damage and diseases such as cancer.
Zinc deficiency is quite common in the developing world and even in the United States, about 12% of the population is probably at risk for zinc deficiency. With the senior population, as many as 40% will be deficient in zinc due to poor diets and lower absorption of this particular nutrient. It is important to note that studies have shown that zinc is essential for DNA repair. Most people probably have never been tested for these types of deficiencies.
In a recent article it was mentioned how a man in Florida had overused his denture cream, which contains zinc. He began feeling weak and eventually his problem was traced to a serious blood disorder caused by low levels of copper. His doctor mentioned that by taking too much zinc it can result in a loss of copper. This may be an unusual case, but the point here is that it shows how important it is for the human body to have both zinc and copper in the proper amounts.
In some other studies, it has been found that the prostate gland has one of the highest concentrations of zinc in the body, and it is not clearly understood as to why. What is interesting to note is when the prostate become cancerous, the level of zinc drops and some studies have suggested that increasing zinc in the prostate may help prevent prostate cancer.
Zinc is commonly found in many foods such as beef and poultry. To ensure adequate levels, one should consider taking a multivitamin. The recommended daily allowance is about 8 mg/per day for women and about 11mg/per day for men. Anything over 50 mg/per day could be considered excessive according to health experts.
Zinc deficiency in adults and the consequences has not been adequately studied, but there is sufficient evidence to suggest that zinc deficiency in particular may increase the risk of some chronic diseases (including cancer). This could attribute a link between zinc in antioxidant defense and DNA damage repair, according to the experts.
Elevated copper levels can cause PMS in some women. And in some extreme cases, it can cause acne, eczema, sensitive skin, and headaches. Sometimes symptoms can be provoked by consuming chocolate (rich in copper) or food dyes rich in hydrazines, which lower blood zinc levels.
Bottom line, everything in the body must be balanced in order to maintain good health. If you are experiencing symptoms that could possibly be caused by an imbalance of zinc/copper, then you should be tested. Testing can be simple, done in the privacy of your home, and mailed in for results. If you wish to be tested, go to the following website: HealthSolutionCenter.com
