Zicam? Handle with care. But don't toss the zinc!

Bathwater Baby

Where can you turn to get the genuine lowdown on zinc benefits and safety?

Forget the mainstream media. In the wake of the recent Zicam controversy, various “experts” and commentators have sounded the baby-with-the-bathwater alarm and would have you believe that zinc supplements should be avoided altogether.

Keep getting your Zs

Let’s cut through the nonsense and get two things straight: 1) Zinc is not dangerous when used properly, and 2) If you don’t get adequate amounts of zinc, your health will suffer.

A quick look at some past e-Alerts underlines zinc’s considerable benefits.

“Zinchronicity” (6/12/08)
In a study that included 50 middle-aged and elderly subjects, supplementing with 45 mg of zinc per day for one year reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, and rates of infection.

“On the Half Shell” (3/10/09)
When Harvard researchers examined 25 years of data collected from the Nurses’ Health Study (more than 82,000 subjects), they found that women who had the highest intake of zinc reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than 25 percent.

“Give & Take” (3/14/07)
When researchers looked at data collected from the Age- Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), they found that high levels of zinc taken with other antioxidants significantly reduced the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

“Over Exposure” (2/25/08)
In an analysis of medical records for more than 1,300 men, zinc intake was shown to have a protective effect on cadmium-induced prostate injury. (Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that permeates the environment of industrialized countries.)

“Calling For Backup” (10/25/07)
When USDA researchers gave more than 400 elderly subjects multivitamin supplements for one year, those with the highest zinc levels with normal zinc levels had less incidence and duration of pneumonia, less antibiotic use, and fewer days of antibiotic use compared to subjects who had low blood levels of zinc.

And finally, in a 2003 issue of the HSI Members Alert we told you about a study in which a zinc supplement reduced duration of colds by 75 percent when the product was taken at the onset of symptoms.

Zinc is necessary for DNA reproduction and repair, immune system maintenance, and normal blood clotting. But as we’ve learned from the Zicam issue, zinc (at least zinc gel) should not be applied directly to the olfactory epithelium inside the nostril as it can result in a loss of the sense of smell.

Also note that zinc supplements should be taken in moderation. Excessive zinc intake has been linked to copper deficiency, which can set the stage for neurological problems if copper intake is low. Talk to your doctor before adding zinc to your supplement regimen.

Source:
“Throw Out Your Zicam, and Rethink Other Alternative Cold Remedies” Deborah Kotz, U.S. News & World Report, 6/16/09, health.usnews.com