Zinc is a trace element that plays many vital roles in the body. A lack of this nutrient can make a person more susceptible to disease and illness. Because your body doesn’t naturally produce zinc it must be consumed regularly as part of the diet.

This article explains everything you need to know about zinc, including its functions, health benefits and dosage recommendations.

Top Health Benefits of Zinc

1- Increases Immunity and Fights Colds

Our body needs zinc to activate T cells. These cells help body to control immune responses and also attack infected or cancerous cells. What’s more, zinc supplements significantly reduce the risk of infections and promote immune response in older adults.

2-  Increases Fertility

Studies show that zinc plays an important role in fertility, especially modulating serum testosterone levels in men. Dietary zinc restriction and deficiency in normal young men is associated with a significant decrease in serum testosterone concentrations, which can negatively impact fertility and lower libido.

3- May Reduce the Risk of Certain Age-Related Diseases

It has been known for decades that zinc has a significant role in immune function. Deficiency has been linked to increased inflammation in chronic disease and triggering new inflammatory processes.

4- Zinc's role in wound healing

Zinc plays a role in maintaining skin integrity and structure. Patients experiencing chronic wounds or ulcers often have deficient zinc metabolism and lower serum zinc levels. Zinc is often used in skin creams for treating diaper rash or other skin irritations.

5- Zinc and fertility

Several studies and trials have linked poor zinc status with low sperm quality. For example, one study in the Netherlands found that subjects had a higher sperm count after zinc sulfate and folic acid supplementation. In another study, researchers concluded that poor zinc intake may be a risk factor for low quality of sperm and male infertility.

6- Zinc to treat the common cold

Zinc lozenges were found to shorten the duration of common cold episodes by up to 40 percent.

7- Zinc effects on learning and memory

Research showed that zinc has a crucial role in regulating how neurons communicate with one another, affecting how memories are formed and how we learn.