Zinc – the importany immube system nutritient

Zinc is the nutrient that aids the immune system. Its contribution to correct functioning of immune system was confirmed by many studies. Zinc is thought by many nutritionists to be the most important mineral supplement because it is commonly deficient in the diet. 

Zinc is the nutrient that aids the immune system. Its contribution to correct functioning of immune system was confirmed by many studies. Zinc is thought by many nutritionists to be the most important mineral supplement because it is commonly deficient in the diet.  Zinc keeps the immune system strong, helps heal wounds and supports normal growth. The essentiality of zinc for humans was recognized in the early 1960s. Zinc is known to play a central role in the immune system, and zinc-deficient persons experience increased susceptibility to a variety of pathogens. The immunologic mechanisms whereby zinc modulates increased susceptibility to infection have been studied for several decades. It is clear that zinc affects multiple aspects of the immune system, from the barrier of the skin to gene regulation within lymphocytes. Zinc is crucial for normal development and function of cells mediating nonspecific immunity such as neutrophils and natural killer cells. Zinc deficiency also affects development of acquired immunity by preventing both the outgrowth and certain functions of immune cells. Zinc also functions as an antioxidant and can stabilize membranes, what helps the body’s fight against damaging free radicals.

New research suggests that zinc helps control infections by gently tapping the brakes on the immune response in a way that prevents out-of-control inflammation that can be damaging for the human cells. Scientists determined in human cell culture and animal studies reliance of the  key cells that are first-responders against infection and zinc. The zinc interacts with a process that is vital to the fight against infection and by doing so helps balance the immune response.