what is zinc ?
People use more and more vitamins and herbal products to treat the common cold. The problem is that they do not know that there is little evidence to support this.
Zinc is an essential mineral, necessary for sustaining all life. Enzymes with a zinc atom in the reactive center are widespread in biochemistry, such as the alcohol dehydrogenase in humans. Consumption of higher concentrations of zinc can cause ataxia, lethargy and copper deficiency.
A variety of zinc compounds find use industrially, such as zinc chloride (in deodorants), zinc pyrithione (anti-dandruff shampoos), zinc sulfide (in luminescent paints), and zinc methyl or zinc diethyl in the organic laboratory. Roughly one quarter of all zinc output is consumed in the form of zinc compounds.
Zinc is an essential trace element, necessary for sustaining all animal life and is thought to protect plants from drought and disease1. Concentrations of zinc in humans are highest in the eye, kidney, liver, muscle, and prostate1. It is particularly rich in semen and is a key factor in prostate gland function and reproductive organ growth1.
Zinc has been identified as one of ten major factors contributing to disease in developing nations. About half of the world's population is at risk for zinc deficiency 1.
References
1.^ a b c d e f g h Emsley 2001,