Symptoms of zinc deficiency
- Nearly 100 enzymes depend on zinc for their activity.
- Zinc has an important role in the structure of proteins and cell membranes.
- Zinc finger structures called zinc motifs stabilize proteins.
- Poor taste, decreased wound healing, clouding of the corneas, low testosterone levels, decreased libido, poor sperm production.
- In pregnant women, low zinc levels can lead to an increased risk of stretch marks, cracked nipples, and prolonged labour.
Liquid Zinc Taste Test --- Assessing for Zinc Deficiency
- Place 10 mL (about two teaspoons) of liquid zinc in your mouth.
- Hold the liquid zinc in your mouth for ten to fifteen seconds
- Now note how the liquid zinc tastes in your mouth.
- Good Level --- If the zinc tastes bad, has a metallic taste or if your tongue feels fuzzy
- Adequate Level --- if there is a strong taste that is not unpleasant and a little metallic with perhaps an intensification as time passes, then you have adequate levels
- Poor Level ---Little taste at first but after 10 seconds you have a sweet taste or fuzzy sensation then you have a poor level of zinc
- Extremely Low Level --- If you have no taste sensation at all --- the liquid tastes like water or is essentially tasteless then you have an extremely low level of zinc.
Safe levels
- Detailed interactions and RDA's for adults, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women can be found by clicking on the following link: Linus Pauling Institute [Oregon University]: Zinc