Zinc deficiency is a global problem. According to WHO, about 31% of the world's population suffers from a critical shortage of this mineral. Alimentary deficiency of zinc provokes many problems both of a cosmetic nature (baldness, acne, dry skin), and with the functioning of internal organs.
The daily rate of zinc and its role in the body
Life-threatening zinc deficiency is extremely rare. But, according to rough estimates by the Linus Pauling Institute , about 2 billion people in the world suffer from moderate zinc deficiency. This condition never passes without a trace and affects all spheres of human life.
Hair loss, dry skin, acne and inflammation, furunculosis, poor blood quality, eye diseases and vision problems, irritability and unmotivated aggression are just a short list of possible problems that immediately catch your eye when looking at such a patient.
The daily intake of zinc with food for women from eighteen years of age and older is 9-10 mg. For men, this amount is slightly larger - about 15 mg.
Mineral Deficiency Risk Factors
If at least one of the items listed below is present, then most likely a person has a serious lack of zinc:
- Chronic alcoholism: the constant abuse of ethanol-containing drinks helps to wash out the metabolites of not only zinc, but also calcium, magnesium, and selenium.
- Diabetes mellitus due to a violation of insulin resistance helps to reduce the concentration of zinc in the body. In turn, diabetics should be careful when taking zinc-containing drugs, as they can inhibit blood sugar levels.
- Patients who have to undergo regular hemodialysis (for chronic renal failure) may experience zinc deficiency.
- Girls who constantly adhere to strict diets for weight loss, and still starve, run the risk of experiencing a serious deficiency of many minerals (for this reason they usually have very rare and dry hair on their heads).
- HIV and AIDS (like other diseases of the immune system) are a common cause of a lack of zinc in the body. This class of patients needs constant use of zinc-containing drugs.
The relationship between zinc in the body and hair growth
Baldness is a real disaster not only for women, but also for men. Lack of zinc contributes to the development of malignant reactive alopecia. This diagnosis implies a gradual baldness of the scalp due to depletion of the hair follicles. Very often, they are no longer able to restore their work. And, therefore, to achieve the former density of hair, too.
Therefore, it is important to start taking zinc-containing drugs as soon as possible. A special analysis for the presence of zinc in the blood can be done in any paid laboratory. If the analysis shows a deficit - do not hesitate, you need to replenish zinc reserves.
The effect of zinc on the condition of the skin of the face and body
One of the main symptoms of a lack of zinc in the body is poor skin on the face and body. Acne, a tendency to form abscesses (furunculosis), acne, various dermatitis - all this is characteristic of men and women of any age. after the mineral deficiency is eliminated with the help of special preparations, the problem will be solved by itself.
Patients in whose blood a lack of zinc was detected complain of dryness and flaking of the skin. This is also a characteristic symptom of the condition. Not one, even the most expensive and high-quality, moisturizer can help until the main cause of skin problems is eliminated.
Painful conditions that occur with deficiency
Symptoms of a lack of zinc in the body:
- strong and prolonged hair loss that no mask can stop;
- skin problems: dryness, acne, furunculosis, dermatitis, acne;
- weak immunity: frequent colds;
- susceptibility to various allergic reactions;
- leaky gut syndrome ;
- digestive problems and some chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Zinc is very important for the proper functioning of the immune system, in particular:
- supports the process of apoptosis, which destroys all viral and malicious cells, as well as malignant cells that can develop into neoplasms;
- participates in the transcription of the first stage of gene expression;
- plays a role in the formation of white blood cells, a certain amount of which is necessary for the body's ability to resist external infections.
Patients note that after restoration of the reference values of the amount of mineral in the blood, they began to get sick with viral diseases much less often. Chronic diseases of internal organs began to manifest themselves weaker.
Signs of a lack of zinc in the body
How to determine the mineral deficiency at an early stage and prevent the development of serious health problems? This should be known to everyone. Symptoms of a lack of zinc in the body of a woman at an early stage are determined by the following "bells":
- the appearance of chronic fatigue. This is a very common symptom. It may indicate not only a lack of zinc, but also a deficiency of other vitamins and minerals;
- an increase in the amount of hair falling out when washing and combing;
- the appearance of acne, although before they were not;
- problems with the menstrual cycle.
Signs of deficiency in men are less pronounced, and it is more difficult to recognize the problem at an early stage than in women. For prophylaxis, Zincteral can be used once a year for one month. To regulate the level of zinc in the blood, it is advisable to do a laboratory blood test from time to time.
Zincteral in the fight for thick hair and beautiful skin
This drug is the best in our country for the treatment of zinc deficiency in the body of women and men. Despite the fact that Zincteral has many side effects, it raises the level of zinc in the blood to reference values faster than any other means.
The drug is produced in Poland. The release form is a crimson-colored dragee with a characteristic metallic flavor. The optimal time of admission is in the morning, on an empty stomach. One tablet contains 15 mg of zinc sulfate. This form of the mineral is absorbed by the body best.
Due to the high mineral content, the drug often causes a number of side effects:
- severe nausea, vomiting (if this side effect occurs - you should take dragees not on an empty stomach, but after eating);
- dizziness, weakness after taking pills;
- in the first week of admission, a decline in vitality is possible;
- diarrhea;
- blood in the stool;
- problems with urination.
Some advise drinking Zincteral milk to get rid of side effects. This advice is not practical, since calcium, which is found in large quantities in milk, interferes with the absorption of zinc and is its antagonist.
Vitamin and mineral complexes that contain zinc
You can easily get rid of signs of zinc deficiency in the body by regularly taking special vitamin and mineral complexes. Here are the best ones that contain zinc in the amount recommended for daily intake:
- "Doppelherz Asset from A to Zinc";
- "Supradin" in the form of dragees, and in the form of effervescent soluble tablets;
- "Alphabet Classic";
- "Perfect" is especially good for those who lose their hair due to zinc deficiency.
All these complexes are effective only with constant use, at least two months. If you use less, then the effect can not be expected. Vitamin-mineral complexes usually contain from 3 to 8 mg of zinc, this amount is enough to cure an average degree of deficiency. If it is large, then it is better to opt for the Zincteral dragee.
How to make up for the lack of zinc from food
There are patients who are extremely negative in relation to any pharmaceuticals. Such suspicious people can try to increase the level of zinc by regulating their diet by adding the following products to it;
- beef - per 100 grams of this meat accounts for 5.2 mg of zinc (which is equivalent to 32% of the daily needs of a person weighing about 60 kg);
- cashews contain about 4 mg of zinc per 100 g;
- boiled chicken contains about 1.9 mg of zinc per 100 g;
- 100 g of spinach accounts for about 1 mg of zinc;
- one glass of boiled chickpea contains 2.5 mg of zinc;
- per 100 g of boiled mushrooms accounts for 1.2 mg of zinc.
It is worth remembering that when ingested with calcium, zinc is not absorbed. So you should not drink these products with milk, kefir, fermented baked milk and other drinks with a high content of calcium.