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Zinc: what the body needs it for
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Zinc is essential for the health of the body no less than other trace elements or vitamins. However, not many people know why this element is considered vital.
Many years ago, specialists found confirmation that zinc takes part in the construction of the human body, supports immunity and human reproductive functionality. Zinc is very important for the child's body and for pregnant women, as it takes part in important processes of cell construction and division.
The health benefits of zinc continue to be studied, and scientists are eager to share their new discoveries.
According to a recent study, it has been found that zinc can protect DNA from destruction and damage.
A constant supply of zinc to the body helps to preserve high-quality genetic material, preventing the development of oncology, coronary and other diseases.
It is no secret that with age, cellular DNA also changes - that is, it ages. But the body does everything possible to periodically start "repairing" the genetic material. In conditions of zinc deficiency, this "repair" mechanism is disrupted, and DNA quickly "wears out".
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that people who consume 4 mg of zinc daily have better genetic material, stronger immunity, and are less likely to suffer from infectious diseases and cancer.
Researchers from the CHORI Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, set out to determine how zinc, which enters the body through food, can affect metabolism and other intracellular processes. The project was led by Professor Janet King, a senior researcher at CHORI.
Professor King and other researchers recruited 18 male volunteers for the experiment. They were deliberately prescribed a diet with minimal zinc content in their diet. Half of the participants consumed 6 mg of zinc per day, and the other half - 10 mg.
The study lasted for one and a half months.
At the very beginning and end of the experiment, specialists determined the values of zinc homeostasis and other metabolic indicators, the presence of DNA damage, inflammatory reactions and oxidation processes in the subjects’ bodies.
It was found that even a small increase in zinc consumption led to positive changes in the body. Simultaneously with the increase in plasma concentration of the microelement, scientists were able to observe a decrease in the number of microdamages in leukocyte DNA. Indirectly, this indicates that zinc has the ability to slow down the aging processes of cellular genetic material.
"For the first time, scientists have been able to demonstrate the benefits of zinc for maintaining cellular health. We are amazed at how important this element is for cellular processes. Therefore, we recommend that you definitely include zinc in your diet," Professor King commented on the results of the study.