Ingredient Spotlight: Zinc

Zinc is responsible for being a component of over 200 enzymes and 2000 transcription factors needed to regulate lipid, protein, and gene metabolism and gene transcription. Because zinc assists in cell division, it is crucial during rapid growth and repair times – thus is particularly important in children, teenagers, and pregnant women! Its roles and benefits are far- reaching – we even need it to smell and taste the world around us!

Zinc’s benefits aren’t limited to our internal body; our skin also reaps the benefits. Its oil-regulating, anti- inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties are the keys to it being a robust skin supplement.

Even though this is a guide on ingestible beauty, the internal health benefits of zinc are too good not to sing about.

Internally, zinc holds many crucial roles in maintaining a healthy, fighting, fit body. Roles include looking after
gut, reproductive and immune health. Zinc also helps in the production of hydrochloric acid and neurotransmitters.

In terms of outer skin benefits, zinc has multiple roles in helping our skin be healthy and blemish-free.

First up, zinc has a crucial role in wound healing. Zinc helps skin cell walls stay intact while also assisting the cells to divide and specialise – so they can close over and heal a wound. Wounds include any type of skin trauma, including burns, abrasions, and popped pimples.

Prone to angry breakouts? Since the 1970s, dermatologists have prescribed oral zinc supplementation to help treat acne. The excellent news, zinc has been shown to have anti-acneic effects. Its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and oil regulating properties make it an ideal blemish and acne supplement that can help calm redness, reduce acne-causing bacteria and regulate your oil flow.

Are you experiencing other skin issues? It doesn’t stop there; studies have suggested other medical skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and alopecia can also be managed with oral supplementation of zinc.

Since our bodies cannot synthesise zinc, we rely on obtaining it solely through our diet. The best sources of zinc are from animal products, as animal proteins facilitate the absorption of zinc. Unfortunately, while plant sources like cereals and legumes have good amounts of zinc, they contain phytates that interfere with zinc absorption. As a result, only 20-40% of plant-based zincis absorbed into the body. Therefore, those following vegetarian or vegan diets are at risk of zinc deficiency and could benefit from a supplemental top-up.

Bluff oyster season? Oysters are the best source of zinc, so if you are partial to a fresh bluffie – help yourself!

As zinc is not stored in the body for long periods, frequent and consistent dietary top-ups are necessary. Zinc deficiency due to a poor diet may appear as dry, itchy skin, hair loss, reduced ability to taste food, and appetite loss. An inherited zinc deficiency disorder affecting zinc absorption causes a condition called acrodermatitis enteropathica which presents as lesions and rashes across the body.

Surprisingly, zinc deficiency is relatively common – with one-third of the global population currently considered deficient. This is seen in areas like South-East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and other developing countries.