Zinc is a necessary trace element inside the human body. Although the content of zinc in the human body is not very high, it plays a very important role in human growth and development, reproductive inheritance, immunity, and endocrinology. It is an indispensable substance in many important physiological processes, and children are the main high-risk group for zinc deficiency. Many children are supplementing with zinc, but when should they supplement zinc?

The role of zinc

1. Zinc is a synthetic component of more than 100 enzymes in the human body. These enzymes act on the metabolic functions of proteins, fats, sugars, nucleic acids, etc. A lack of zinc will cause It causes protein synthesis disorders and fat and sugar catabolism disorders, affecting normal human growth and development, protease synthesis, energy metabolism and other physiological functions.

2. Zinc is an important component for the normal development and normal function of sexual organs. Zinc deficiency can also lead to delayed sexual maturity, underdevelopment of sexual organs, frigidity, reduced sperm count, abnormal menstruation, etc.

3. Zinc is also the main component in maintaining skin health. When zinc is deficient, the skin will be dry, rough, epithelial keratinization, and wound healing is slow.

4. Zinc is also involved in removing cholesterol from the body and has the effect of preventing and treating atherosclerosis.

Causes of Zinc Deficiency

1. Insufficient zinc intake: Children grow and develop rapidly and have a greater demand for various nutrients. Children will have some picky eaters and anorexia. problems, leading to insufficient zinc intake in children. In addition, zinc is mainly contained in animal foods, so pay attention to the mix of meat and vegetables in your diet.

2. Zinc absorption disorder: Diarrhea or colds will affect the digestive function of the gastrointestinal tract and hinder the absorption of zinc. Moreover, the zinc content in milk is not very different from that in breast milk, but the absorption is Not as good as breast milk.

3. Excessive zinc loss: Various diseases or injuries cause the body to lose a large amount of body fluids, including repeated bleeding, hemolysis, proteinuria, and long-term heavy sweating, which can cause a large amount of zinc loss.

Types of zinc supplement drugs

Medicine is developing and progressing all the time, and zinc supplement drugs are also changing.

Inorganic zinc: Zinc sulfate, zinc chloride, zinc nitrate, etc. are the first generation of zinc supplement drugs. They are all inorganic substances and have strong side effects. They have now been eliminated from oral drugs and are mostly used to promote the healing of trauma. .

Organic zinc: Zinc gluconate, zinc licorice, zinc acetate, zinc citrate, zinc amino acid, etc. are all organic compounds, which have a certain stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract and are relatively cheap.

Protein zinc: There is this kind of zinc supplement on the market now. It is a health product and a protein-bound zinc. The effect of zinc supplement is good and has no side effects, but it is more expensive.

Time to supplement zinc

“Supplement zinc during the day and calcium at night.” Many people know this sentence, but when you are faced with some zinc supplement drugs, when should you choose to take them?

Zinc supplementation before meals

As for protein zinc, which currently has the best zinc supplement effect, it is of course best to take it before meals. It itself has no irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It should be taken before meals. Eating it helps absorption and the effect is better.

Zinc supplementation after meals

Inorganic zinc, which is the second-generation zinc supplement drug now available in many hospitals and pharmacies, has a certain stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Especially for children, the gastrointestinal development is not very complete and they are relatively fragile and cannot withstand the stimulating effect of drugs. It is recommended to take these zinc supplements half an hour after meals.

The best way to supplement zinc

Many children do not need medication to supplement zinc. In fact, they can choose dietary supplements, and dietary supplements are the best way to supplement zinc. Not only There is no need to consider the stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract or the timing of supplementation. Eating is just a zinc supplement.

Foods high in zinc: seafood, animal liver, lean meat, fish, egg yolks, dairy products, etc.

Notes on zinc supplementation

1. Zinc supplementation requires first confirming the true zinc deficiency. Trace elements need to be measured in the hospital. Only when zinc deficiency is confirmed can zinc supplementation be carried out. Zinc supplementation cannot be done blindly. .

2. Zinc supplementation needs to be limited, and excessive zinc supplementation is not allowed. Excessive zinc supplementation can easily cause zinc poisoning, causing gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. In severe cases, it may also cause gastric mucosal congestion and edema. , erosion, and even gastric bleeding. In addition, excessive sex can cause certain damage to the liver and nervous system.

3. Milk is not conducive to the absorption of zinc, so it is not advisable to drink milk for zinc supplementation.

4. Zinc and calcium cannot be supplemented at the same time. Generally, zinc is supplemented during the day and calcium is supplemented at night. Calcium supplementation will affect the absorption and utilization of zinc.