Health Benefits of Zinc Sulfate

Zinc sulfate combines the mineral zinc with, essentially, a salt of sulfuric acid, and is used to ensure that adequate amounts of zinc are not lacking in the body; zinc is an essential trace element that helps maintain the immune, reproductive and digestive systems, and plays a crucial role in many bodily processes and functions such as cell reproduction, hormonal balance, proper absorption of vitamins and protein synthesis.

Zinc supplements are used to promote growth and normal health, and to relieve zinc deficiency, known as hypozincemia. Deficiency can cause night vision problems, slow wound healing, a decrease in the sense of taste and smell, a reduced ability to fight infections and poor development of the reproductive organs; in children it causes growth retardation, delayed sexual maturation, susceptibility to infections and diarrhoea, which contributes to the death of many of them.

Zinc deficiency is considered a very widespread risk worldwide; it is the fifth leading risk factor for the development of disease in the world

When we talk about the health benefits of zinc sulfate, we could focus on its antioxidant power, since it protects cells from the potential damage caused by free radical molecules in the body; in addition, it benefits many enzyme systems that regulate cell growth, DNA, protein synthesis, energy metabolism, regulation of gene transcription, hormone levels and the metabolism of growth factors.

Among other things, zinc sulfate is important in the metabolism of vitamin A and collagen, cellular immunity, maintaining sharpness of taste and the development of the reproductive organs; it maintains the adequate concentration of vitamin E in the blood, and since zinc also plays a role in regulating appetite and stress levels, this combined mineral is very important in the diet for weight loss or muscle hypertrophy.

Zinc sulfate also offers potential benefits for eyesight, combating night blindness and other related problems; it also offers an extra benefit for people with age-related macular degeneration. From this point of view, the health benefits of zinc sulfate for older people are critical, and it can change lifestyle, as long as doctors advise it when it comes to an alternative treatment.

In many serious research studies, zinc sulfate was shown to have the ability to control gene activity in colon cancer cells, leading to colon cancer cell death; another study, published in “Cell Biology International” in 2009, reports that zinc promotes specific DNA damage in cancer cells, causing their death, while protecting normal cells from possible damage. Although all of this requires further research, it is a notable point that we should know.

Sources

1. Health Yeating: Benefits of Zinc Sultate
2. Medicina Net Reviews: Oral Zinc Sulfate