Tagged with 'wound-healing'

Zinc is called an “essential trace element” because it's necessary for numerous chemical processes that take place within a cell. It's required for the activity of approximately 100 enzymes and it plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence and is required for proper sense of taste and smell. To maintain a steady state of zinc, daily intake is required because our bodies don’t have a specialized system for storing zinc.

Let's talk about six health issues when supplemental zinc may be appropriate.

Immune Function and the Common Cold

The relationship between zinc and the immune system is complex since there are four different ways zinc influences the immune system. Although technical, zinc does indeed help the immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses.

There is reliable and relatively consistent data showing zinc is most effective at treating the common cold when taken within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Zinc lozenges used at the first sign of a cold have been shown to help stop the virus and shorten the illness.

Lozenges containing zinc gluconate, zinc gluconate-glycine, and, in most trials, zinc acetate have been effective; most other forms of zinc and lozenges flavored with citric acid, tartaric acid, sorbitol, or mannitol have been ineffective.

For the alleviation of cold symptoms, lozenges providing 13 to 25 mg of zinc (as zinc gluconate, zinc gluconate-glycine, or zinc acetate) are used every two hours while awake but only for several days. Remember, the best effect is obtained when lozenges are used at the first sign of a cold.

Wound Healing

Long ago, during my first dietitian job at a hospital, I handled the nutrition piece within the hospital’s wound care clinic. I learned a lot about the value of eating specific nutrients to help heal these gnarly open wounds and sores. Zinc was one of those specific nutrients I often suggested the patients take. It’s important in the formation of collagen, a critical component in healing wound, and can enhance the wound-healing process.

Diarrhea

Studies in developing countries found zinc may reduce the severity and duration of diarrhea in poorly nourished children, especially those with low zinc levels.

Male Fertility

There’s reliable and relatively consistent information showing a zinc deficiency leads to reduced numbers of sperm and impotence in men. Taking zinc may correct this problem and improve sperm quality. The ideal amount of supplemental zinc remains unknown, but some doctors recommend 30 mg two times per day. Long-term zinc supplementation requires 1–2 mg of copper per day to prevent copper deficiency.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

This eye disease gradually causes vision loss. Research suggests zinc might help keep early age-related macular degeneration from worsening into advanced AMD. More research is needed before doctors can recommend zinc supplements for AMD, but people who have or are developing it might want to talk to their doctor about taking zinc.

Stomach Ulcers

The healing process of stomach ulcers may be enhanced through treatment with zinc, although more studies are needed to more clearly determine its effects. Most studies report few or no side effects associated with its use.

Recommended Dietary Allowances for Zinc

As suggested by National Institutes of Health; Office of Dietary Supplements:

 

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods

References:

Prasad AS, Cossack ZT. Zinc supplementation and growth in sickle cell disease. Ann Intern Med 1984;100:367-71.

National Institutes of Health; Office of Dietary Supplements. Zinc Fact Sheet for Consumers. 

Recommended Daily Allowances for Zinc chart: US Dept of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health/Office of Dietary Supplements, found here: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/#h4

Zinc is called an “essential trace element” because it's necessary for numerous chemical processes that take place within a cell. It's required for the activity of approximately 100 enzymes and it plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence and is required for proper sense of taste and smell. To maintain a steady state of zinc, daily intake is required because our bodies don’t have a specialized system for storing zinc.

Let's talk about six health issues when supplemental zinc may be appropriate.

Immune Function and the Common Cold

The relationship between zinc and the immune system is complex since there are four different ways zinc influences the immune system. Although technical, zinc does indeed help the immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses.

There is reliable and relatively consistent data showing zinc is most effective at treating the common cold when taken within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Zinc lozenges used at the first sign of a cold have been shown to help stop the virus and shorten the illness.

Lozenges containing zinc gluconate, zinc gluconate-glycine, and, in most trials, zinc acetate have been effective; most other forms of zinc and lozenges flavored with citric acid, tartaric acid, sorbitol, or mannitol have been ineffective.

For the alleviation of cold symptoms, lozenges providing 13 to 25 mg of zinc (as zinc gluconate, zinc gluconate-glycine, or zinc acetate) are used every two hours while awake but only for several days. Remember, the best effect is obtained when lozenges are used at the first sign of a cold.

Wound Healing

Long ago, during my first dietitian job at a hospital, I handled the nutrition piece within the hospital’s wound care clinic. I learned a lot about the value of eating specific nutrients to help heal these gnarly open wounds and sores. Zinc was one of those specific nutrients I often suggested the patients take. It’s important in the formation of collagen, a critical component in healing wound, and can enhance the wound-healing process.

Diarrhea

Studies in developing countries found zinc may reduce the severity and duration of diarrhea in poorly nourished children, especially those with low zinc levels.

Male Fertility

There’s reliable and relatively consistent information showing a zinc deficiency leads to reduced numbers of sperm and impotence in men. Taking zinc may correct this problem and improve sperm quality. The ideal amount of supplemental zinc remains unknown, but some doctors recommend 30 mg two times per day. Long-term zinc supplementation requires 1–2 mg of copper per day to prevent copper deficiency.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

This eye disease gradually causes vision loss. Research suggests zinc might help keep early age-related macular degeneration from worsening into advanced AMD. More research is needed before doctors can recommend zinc supplements for AMD, but people who have or are developing it might want to talk to their doctor about taking zinc.

Stomach Ulcers

The healing process of stomach ulcers may be enhanced through treatment with zinc, although more studies are needed to more clearly determine its effects. Most studies report few or no side effects associated with its use.

Recommended Dietary Allowances for Zinc

As suggested by National Institutes of Health; Office of Dietary Supplements:

 

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Live Superfoods

 

References:

Prasad AS, Cossack ZT. Zinc supplementation and growth in sickle cell disease. Ann Intern Med 1984;100:367-71.

National Institutes of Health; Office of Dietary Supplements. Zinc Fact Sheet for Consumers. 

Recommended Daily Allowances for Zinc chart: US Dept of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health/Office of Dietary Supplements, found here: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/#h4

Glutamine

is one of the most common amino acids (building block of protein) in the body.

Glutamine is important for removing excess ammonia, which is a common waste product in the body.  It also helps your immune system function and appears to be needed for normal brain function and digestion.

You can usually get enough glutamine without taking a supplement, because your body makes it and you get some in your diet.  However, certain medical conditions, including injuries, surgery (1, 2), infections (3), and prolonged stress (4), can lower glutamine levels, making it an essential nutrient.  In these cases, L-glutamine has been found to be of great importance in the treatment of trauma and surgery patients, and has been shown to decrease the incidence of infection in these patients.

Wound healing and recovery from illness

When the body is stressed, it releases the hormone cortisol into the bloodstream.  High levelds of cortisol can lower your body's stores of glutamine. Several studies show adding glutamine to enteral nutrition (tube feeding) helps reduce the rate of death in trauma and critically ill people.  Clinical studies have found glutamine supplements strengthen the immune system and reduce infections (particularly infections associated with surgery). Glutamine supplements may also help in the recovery of severe burns (5).

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Glutamine helps to protect the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and is an important fuel source for the small intestine.  For that reason, some have suggested people who have inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, may not have adequate glutamine.  However, the results of two clinical trials concluded taking glutamine supplements did not improve symptoms of Crohn's disease.  More research is needed.  In the meantime, ask your doctor when deciding whether to use glutamine for IBD.

HIV/AIDS

People with HIV or AIDS often experience severe weight loss (particularly loss of muscle mass).  A few studies of people with HIV and AIDS have found taking glutamine supplements, along with other important nutrients including vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, and N-acetylcysteine, may increase weight gain and help the intestines better absorb nutrients.

Athletes

Athletes who regularly do intense training for endurance events (like marathons) may reduce the amount of glutamine in their bodies.  It's common for them to catch a cold after an athletic event, particularly an upper respiratory infection.  Some experts think that may be because of the role glutamine plays in the immune system.  For this select group of athletes, one study showed taking glutamine supplements resulted in fewer infections.  The same is not true, however, for exercisers who work out at a moderate intensity.

Cancer

People with cancer may have depleted levels of glutamine due to uptake by tumors and constant breakdown of protein. Glutamine may be helpful in offsetting this depletion; however, it may also stimulate the growth of some tumors.  The use of glutamine with cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy seems to prevent nasty side effects in the intestines and mouth (6, 7).

Supplemental glutamine is often given to malnourished cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments and sometimes used in patients undergoing bone marrow transplants.

Glutamine seems to help reduce inflammation of the mouth caused by chemotherapy.  Some studies, but not all, have suggested taking glutamine orally may help reduce diarrhea associated with chemotherapy.

More clinical research is needed to know whether glutamine is safe or effective to use as part of the treatment regimen for cancer.

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RD

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods

 

1.  Blomvist BI, Hammarqvist F, von der Decken A, Wernerman J. Glutamine and alpha-ketoglutarate attenuate the fall in muscle free glutamine concentration after total hip replacement. Clin Nutr 1993;12: 12S–3S.

2.  Parry-Billings M, Baigrie RJ, Lamont PM, Morris PJ, Newsholme EA. Effects of major and minor surgery on plasma glutamine and cytokine levels. Arch Surg 1992;127:1237–40. 

3.  Planas M, Schwartz S, Arbos MA, Farriol M. Plasma glutamine levels in septic patients. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1993;17:299–300. 

4.  Wernerman J, Hammarqvist F, Ali MR, Vinnars E. Glutamine and ornithine[hyphen]α-ketoglutarate but not branched-chain amino acids reduce the loss of muscle glutamine after surgical trauma. Metabolism 1989;38:63–6. 

5.  Parry-Billings M, Evans J, Calder PC, Newsholme EA. Does glutamine contribute to immunosuppression after major burns? Lancet 1990;336:523 

6.  O’Dwyer S, Smith R, Hwang T, Wilmore D. Maintenance of small bowel mucosa with glutamine-enriched parenteral nutrition. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1989;13:579–85.

7.  Klimberg V, Souba W, Dolson D, et al. Prophylactic glutamine protects the intestinal mucosa from radiation injury. Cancer 1990;66:62–8.