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Zinc Fights Infections in Seniors

A new study finds that seniors who take zinc supplements are at significantly less risk of infections, in part because of zinc’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, both of which improve immune function.

Fifty seniors (ages 55 to 87) received either zinc gluconate supplements (providing 45 mg of elemental zinc per day) or a placebo for 12 months. Compared with a group of younger adults, when the study started the older subjects had significantly lower blood levels of zinc, higher generation of inflammatory cells, and higher oxidative stress markers in their blood. The incidence of infections, generation of inflammatory cells, and oxidative stress markers were significantly lower in the zinc group than in the placebo group.

People taking zinc more than a few weeks, with the exception of those with Wilson’s disease, should also take a copper supplement providing 2 or 3 mg per day.

Prasad AS, Beck FW, Bao B, et al. “Zinc supplementation decreases incidence of infections in the elderly: effect of zinc on generation of cytokines and oxidative stress.” Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:837–44.

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