Zinc Zinc is a nutrient that plays many vital roles in your body.
Because your body doesn’t naturally produce zinc, you must obtain it through food or supplements.
For this reason, you must get a constant supply through your diet.
Zinc is required for numerous processes in your body, including:
Research shows that zinc has numerous health benefits.
For example, a review of seven studies demonstrated that 80–92 mg per day of zinc may reduce the length of the common cold by up to 33%.
Because this mineral plays critical roles in collagen synthesis, immune function and inflammatory response, it is necessary for proper healing.
For example, in a 12-week study in 60 people with diabetic foot ulcers, those treated with 200 mg of zinc per day experienced significant reductions in ulcer size compared to a placebo group.
In a study in 40 older adults, those who took 45 mg of zinc per day experienced greater reductions in inflammatory markers than a placebo group.