Organic Total Body Reboot Review Many enzymes in the body are zinc dependent. Enzymes are proteins that catalyse (ie - speed up) biochemical reactions in the body, such as digestive enzymes, which is why zinc is so crucial for digestive functions. Thousands of processes in the body that involve enzymes are zinc-dependent.
Zinc deficiency can lead to growth retardation in children and sexual immaturity in adolsecents. The first major studies into zinc deficiency were conducted in the Middle East in the early 1960's, particularly in Egypt and Iran. It was found that the prevelence of growth retardation in children was due to lack of meat in the diet, but also the fact that the diet was high in unleavened bread, which was high in a compound called phytate, a major inhibitor of zinc absorption in humans.
In addition to retarded growth, a key sign of zinc deficiency in the Middle East studies was low appetite, poor digestion, and diarrhoea. Trials of zinc supplementation were found to relieve these symptoms in cases where the cause was zinc deficiency. But before you rush out to buy zinc supplements, beware the dangers of overdosing on zinc, as the irony is you can damage your immune system with too much zinc, which is toxic above 40mg a day, and intake above 300mg a day is considered dangerous to health.
