Seniors Need Zinc To Fight Infections

It has been known for a long time that as we age the amount of zinc that we get declines. It is also understood that Zinc is rich in antioxidants and plays a role in stabilizing cell membranes within the immune system. A recent study which was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that elderly people are more susceptible to infection, in part because they do not have enough zinc in their system.

This study of 50 seniors (ages 55 to 87) received either zinc gluconate supplements (providing 45 mg of elemental zinc per day) or a placebo for 12 months. In addition to tracking the incidence of infections, such as colds and flu, they also tracked the blood levels of immune cells, oxidative stress markers, and plasma concentrations of zinc.

The results were compared to a group of younger adults, and when the study started the older subjects had significantly lower blood levels of zinc, higher generation of inflammatory cells, and higher oxidative stress markers in their blood. Afterwards the researchers concluded that the number of infections, generation of inflammatory cells, and oxidative stress markers were significantly lower in the zinc supplement group than in the placebo group.

The author of the study, Dr. Prasad said. “Deficiency of zinc is very widespread in all ages throughout the world and may even be as prevalent as iron deficiency anemia, affecting nearly one billion people.”

He also noted that zinc inhibits copper absorption, and can cause anemia and bone-marrow suppression if taken long-term in large amounts without copper. People taking zinc more than a few weeks, with the exception of those with Wilson’s disease, should also take a copper supplement providing 2 or 3 mg per day.