Written by James H. Lyons, BHSc Nutritional Medicine

James Lyons is a registered clinical nutritionist with special interest in preventative medicine, endocrine conditions and LGBTQI health. He is passionate about health education and patient autonomy, and he supports resources that empower everyone to make informed decisions about their health. James lives in the eastern beaches area of Sydney, Australia and works globally.

 

Feeling run down and moody? In this article we go through the specific signs of a zinc deficiency. You will learn why zinc is essential for the structure and function of the body, why deficiencies develop, where to find it in your diet and how to safely use zinc supplements. Zinc from A – Z.

Zinc deficiency has been linked to many health problems. If you suffer from slow weight gain, a sluggish immune system, frequent stomach pains and gas, or recurring mood problems, zinc deficiency could be the secret culprit. It may even slow down your body’s ability to recover from colds and the flu. In this guide, we’re going to take a closer look at how your body can become deficient in zinc and what you can do about it.

In the grand scheme of human nutrition studies, zinc research is in its infancy. Only discovered as an essential element for human health in the 1960s, a recommended daily intake was first established in the mid-1970s. In the short time since the 70s, we've discovered that zinc is involved in, well, pretty much everything.

Zinc is a trace element, meaning that we require very small amounts, but it is one of the most abundant elements found inside cells. The human body contains approximately 2g of zinc, distributed between all body fluids and tissues. Around 30% of a body's total zinc is found in the bones, 60% in skeletal muscle and the remaining 10% in other tissues and organs. The millions of roles that zinc plays can be categorised into three main areas:

1. Type II Nutrient – Cellular Building Blocks

Type II nutrients are cellular building blocks – the minerals, amino acids and proteins that create the structure of cells and are required for the synthesis of any new tissue. You guessed it – zinc is a major type II nutrient along with magnesium, sulphur, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, amino acids and proteins. Because of their essential role in life, these nutrients are under tight physiological control.

2. Antioxidant

As part of superoxide dismutase, zinc acts as one of the most powerful antioxidants in the body to reduce inflammation, prevent cellular damage, and detoxify waste.

3. Co-Factor

Zinc is used in thousands of enzymatic reactions through the body. From energy production to DNA replication, hormone secretion and immune cell defences – zinc is essential for all types of biological reactions.

 

Causes of Zinc Deficiency

While severe zinc deficiency is rare in industrialised nations, the World Health Organization estimates that nearly half the world's popular suffers from zinc deficiency. Inadequate intakes and marginal deficiencies are common, too –  in a 2000 survey of over 29,000 people in the USA, only 55% had adequate zinc intakes. Young children, teenage girls and older people over 70 years had the lowest “adequate” zinc intake.

Factors contributing to a risk of zinc deficiency or insufficiency include:

• Inadequate intake due to poor diet
• High intake of phytates in the diet. Phytates bind to zinc and inhibit its absorption. People who eat a healthy high-fibre diets require twice the amount of zinc to ensure they absorb enough zinc
• Long-term folate supplementation
• Medications such as penicillamine, chlorothiazide and most blood pressure drugs 
• Poor digestive function and/or impaired nutrient absorption
• Alcohol use
• HIV infection
• Obesity
• High intake of other metals such as iron and copper.

The Zinc Iron Copper Connection

Copper and iron work with zinc as essential building blocks for basic biological processes. Copper is used in collagen and tissue development, heart health, brain development and nerve signalling.

Iron is used for cellular growth alongside zinc and transportation of oxygen. Despite synergistically working together on a physiological level, copper and iron can significantly impair zinc's status:

• Copper, zinc and iron compete for absorption in the small intestine. When there are high levels of one, the others are less likely to be absorbed. High intake of copper or iron will inhibit the intake of zinc, potentially leading to a deficiency.
• Metallothionine is a transporter for zinc. It also carries copper, cadmium (a toxic metal found in cigarette smoke), and mercury. Copper stimulates its synthesis – without enough copper, zinc cannot be transported through the body. When there is a high intake of zinc, copper is used up to create more metallothionine transporters.
• Iron also needs copper for transportation. When iron uses up copper, copper is unavailable to signal metallothionine synthesis.

The take away: any disruption to iron or copper can throw zinc levels out of balance. 

What a Zinc Deficiency Looks Like

Zinc deficiency is notoriously hard to diagnose. As a type II nutrient, the body will do everything it can to keep zinc levels high, often to the detriment of other physiological processes. This can create a symptom picture that is subtle, ambiguous and broad-reaching – in fact, it can impair many major metabolic functions at once:

Muscle Loss, Slow Growth & Development

As a type II nutrient, zinc is essential for growth and development in all life stages. Children with a zinc deficiency are slow to grow or may not reach their full height potential – remember zinc is involved in both muscle and skeletal development.

This extends to adulthood where a zinc deficiency can impair the growth of tissue – ever had a hard time putting on weight or developing muscle?

Here's how zinc works in tissue growth:

1. Zinc Fingers

A zinc finger is a protein with zinc ions in arrangements to create a “fold” in a polypeptide chain by creating a bridge between cysteine and histidine residues.  They are essential for the proper structure of DNA proteins. Proteins containing zinc fingers are necessary for binding DNA sequences, RNA packaging, DNA recognition, regulation of apoptosis, protein folding, and lipid binding – the essential building blocks of cellular growth, division, and function.

2. Enzyme Cofactors

Over 500 enzymes require zinc for growth, cellular metabolism and protein transcription – the basic fundamental processes that keep cells alive, dividing, and thriving.

3. Growth Hormones

The pituitary gland contains more zinc than any other organ, and for a good reason – zinc enhances the function of pituitary hormones including growth hormone (GH). Without zinc, the pituitary gland is unable to secrete GH, circulating levels subsequently drop. Bones are a primary target for GH, particularly during childhood and adolescence. Replenishing zinc can lead to an increase in growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor, as well as their binding proteins and a boost to their activity.

Zinc is essential for the synthesis and release of major anabolic androgen, testosterone. Testosterone promotes growth of muscles, organs, tissues and bones – without zinc, testosterone levels fall and growth stops.

4. Amino Acid Processing

Zinc is required for the metabolism and integration of many amino acids in the liver and directly within the muscles. In particular, zinc has an affinity for leucine – the amino acid with the biggest impact on muscle gains.

Without adequate zinc intake, muscles and bones can fail to develop properly.

Symptoms of a zinc deficiency in growth and development include:

• Growth restriction – Even a moderate deficiency of zinc can cause impaired development during key growth life stages (e.g. foetal development, adolescence)
• Difficulty gaining muscle
• Increased muscle breakdown and unintentional weight loss
• Slow wound repair

Sad, Slow, Sluggish Immune System

Zinc's involvement in cell development and function is prominent in the immune system. This powerhouse mineral is essential to produce tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), Interleukin-2 (IL-2), and T-cells. TNF-a and IL-2 form the “alarm system”. They react quickly to infections in the body and call in the heavy hitting T-Cells to the area to react specifically to the pathogens present.

Zinc deficiency hits T-cells hard – it depletes their numbers and compromises their function, resulting in a confused, sluggish and weakened immune system. Here are three signs that your body is struggling against a zinc deficiency:

• Viruses love you – With impaired T-cell immunity, viruses can easily sneak in and cause serious illness. We're talking colds and flus but also chickenpox, coldsores, gastro, hepatitis, meningitis and more – viruses can invade the entire body, so boost your zinc to keep your defences up.
• The respiratory infection that just won't quit – The lower your zinc, the longer it can take you to recover from an illness. Taking zinc as soon as you feel the first symptoms of a cold or flu can reduce its duration and severity and reduce the risk of infection spreading to your lungs. Nasal sprays and lozenges are the most effective forms to treat a cold.
• Wound infections & slow healing – A major review showed that zinc, either taken orally or applied directly to wounds, can promote healing and reduce infection. Without enough zinc, the skin is at the mercy of opportunistic infection, and cells struggle to close wounds.
• Seasonal allergies – Zinc is required for the storage of histamine. When zinc levels are low, immune cells become over-reactive and release too much histamine, resulting in allergy symptoms and an increased sensitivity to other allergens.

CAUTION: Copper is essential for immune function, too. Taking high dose zinc (20x the RDI) has been shown to cause immune dysfunction due to an induced copper deficiency.

No Taste or Hunger

A peculiar symptom of zinc deficiency is an impaired sense of taste. Zinc is required for the structure and action of the taste-buds, the nerve impulses that send the signal of “taste” to the brain, and for the brain to receive the message and translate it into, “Mmm, tastes good – eat more!” Without adequate levels of zinc, the message stops at the mouth and most food tastes... well, bland. A give-away of a zinc deficiency is an ongoing craving for salt.

This can lead to a loss of appetite, less eating and lower intake of zinc – supplementation can break this cycle and boost the sense of taste and smell and improve appetite.

Tummy Aches and Gas, or Worse

“Leaky gut” is the common term for a condition called intestinal hyper-permeability. This is where the cells that form the lining of the gastrointestinal tract become separated, allowing large particles in the small intestines to flow where they shouldn't – straight into the blood.

 Normally, the cells of the intestines are held together by what are called “tight gap junctions”. These are flexible structures that open and close to allow small particles to be absorbed. When everything is moving smoothly, only well-digested, tiny nutrients can pass through.

Tight gap junctions are highly reliant on zinc – without zinc, they become permeable and “leaky”. In fact, every cell in the digestive tract requires a lot of zinc for its structure and function. Signs of a zinc deficiency include multiple digestive complaints:

• Burping, Indigestion and Heartburn: Digestive acids in the stomach and small intestine require zinc for their creation and secretion. Normally, stomach acid blitzes through food particles. Low levels of zinc slow down this process, leading to sluggish digestion, an imbalance in pH and possible regurgitation of food or the gasses produced.
• Bloating & Discomfort: Food particles that haven't been properly broken down reach the small intestine and feed the “bad” bacteria there, who emit toxic gas. This gas causes bloating and discomfort as it stretches the intestinal wall.
• Chronic Diarrhoea: Zinc is required for the foundational structure of microvilli – the tiny cells of the small intestine that absorb nutrients. In a severe zinc deficiency, these microvilli change shape and are unable to absorb nutrients properly. These unabsorbed food particles travel further to the large intestine where they cause diarrhoea.

Mood Problems & Poor Concentration

Zinc is found in huge amounts in the brain, specifically the hippocampus, cortex and amygdala. It is fundamental for the transmission and regulation of key neurotransmitters GABA, glutamine, serotonin and dopamine – the four major chemicals involved in learning, mood, and relaxation. Low levels of zinc can contribute to:

• Anxiety – A zinc deficiency may lower GABA and glutamine levels, contributing to symptoms of anxiety.
• Depression – Without zinc acting as an antioxidant, oxidative damage can occur in the central nervous system, along with a decline in serotonin and dopamine – a recipe for symptoms of low mood, loss of appetite, and loss of pleasure. A randomised control trial in 2013 showed that taking 25mg of zinc per day along with prescribed SSRI antidepressant medication improved major depressive disorders compared to placebo.
• Poor Memory and Concentration – Studies have shown that zinc supplementation can improve cognition in adolescents and older adults, likely by protecting brain tissue against oxidative stress and maintaining the structural integrity of brain cells.

Hormone Disturbances

In men, the amount of zinc contained in the body has been shown to have a direct correlation to the amount of testosterone. When zinc levels are low, researchers have discovered that testosterone activity decreases significantly. Zinc deficiencies lead to both a reduction in the receptors that testosterone binds to (androgen receptors), as well as the production of testosterone itself. Men begin to produce less testosterone, while at the same time becoming less sensitive to the testosterone currently in circulation. Zinc supplementation has been shown to boost testosterone, resulting in a huge increase in libido and even a correction of erectile dysfunction.

In women, the relationship between zinc and hormone levels are slightly different. Zinc has been shown to inhibit overactivity of an enzyme known as 5-alpha-reductase, which is responsible for converting testosterone to the more active Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This helps balance the ratio of estrogen to testosterone in the female body, and eases symptoms related to hormonal imbalance such as hirsutism, PCOS, and PMS.

Chronic, Painful Acne 

A study in 2014 compared the serum zinc levels of 100 participants with acne vulgaris to 100 participants with clear skin. The researchers found that those with acne had much lower zinc levels and found an association between zinc levels and the severity of the acne present.

Oral zinc supplementation has been shown to destroy the bacteria that causes acne, and to reduce the excessive production of sebum in the skin (a type of “oil” that blocks pores and keeps bacteria trapped there).

Fixing a Zinc Deficiency

Zinc from Food

Oysters contain the richest zinc concentrations on the plate – a traditional aphrodisiac... Did we mention that zinc supports libido? Six raw oysters contain ~35mg of zinc – a therapeutic dose!

Other less fishy sources include organ meats, red meat and turkey.

Plant-based sources rich in zinc include wheat germ, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), nuts, mushrooms and dark chocolate!

Remember: If you get most of your zinc from plant-based sources, you will need a higher zinc intake to account for the phytate content that inhibits zinc's absorption in the intestines. Yes, we're suggesting you should eat more dark chocolate.

Safe Zinc Supplementation 

1. Seek personalised advice from a qualified practitioner. We've given you a picture of what a zinc deficiency could look like, but because of zinc's overwhelming number of roles in the body, a deficiency can look very different – and all these issues could be caused by a completely different issue! Check with a qualified nutritionist, naturopath or integrative doctor before self-diagnosing.
2. Short-term only! Zinc supplementation can throw the iron:copper:zinc ratio in your body way out of balance. Use high dose (>50mg) for two weeks ONLY, unless under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. A moderate dose of 25mg a day is reasonable but check with a qualified nutritionist if you intend to take zinc supplements long-term.
3. Keep zinc separated. Take zinc supplements at least 2 hours away from medications, especially tetracyclines, quinolones, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and folate supplements.

Zinc supplements are common and come in many forms, each with varying amounts of elemental zinc (pure zinc). For example, zinc citrate delivers roughly 34% elemental zinc by weight compared to just 13% in zinc gluconate. The differences in this ratio means that 100 mg of zinc citrate is very different than 100 mg of zinc gluconate. For this reason, it’s important to always follow the label when taking zinc supplements.

CAUTION: Take zinc supplements with food. Common side effects of taking zinc on an empty stomach include nausea and vomiting.

TIP: Speak to a qualified nutritionist, naturopath or doctor for personalised advice, especially if you are taking medications.

• Share on:
• WhatsApp
• Deel
• X
• Pin it
• Messenger
• Email

---