Zinc Orotate

Zinc Orotate

Dr. Hans A. Nieper - Professional Formulas*

Zinc plays a very important role in the structure of all proteins and cell membranes. Nearly 100 different enzymes depend on zinc for their ability to catalyze vital chemical reactions.

Severe Zinc Deficiency

The symptoms of severe zinc deficiency include the slowing or cessation of growth and development, delayed sexual maturation, characteristic skin rashes, chronic and severe diarrhea, immune system deficiencies, impaired wound healing, diminished appetite, impaired taste sensation, night blindness, swelling and clouding of the, and behavioral disturbances. Oral zinc therapy results in the complete remission of symptoms, though it must be maintained indefinitely in individuals with the genetic disorder.  Although dietary zinc deficiency is unlikely to cause severe zinc deficiency in individuals without a genetic disorder, zinc malabsorption or conditions of increased zinc loss, such as severe burns or prolonged diarrhea, may also result in severe zinc deficiency.

Mild Zinc Deficiency

It has recently become apparent that milder zinc deficiency contributes to a number of health problems, especially common in children who live in developing countries. The lack of a sensitive indicator of mild zinc deficiency hinders the scientific study of its health implications. However, controlled trials of moderate zinc supplementation have demonstrated that mild zinc deficiency contributes to impaired physical and neuropsychological development and increased susceptibility to life-threatening infections in young children.

Individuals at Risk of Zinc Deficiency

• Infants and children
• Individuals with diabetes 
• Pregnant and lactating (breast-feeding) women, especially teenagers
• Patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (intravenous feedings)
• Malnourished individuals, including those with protein-energy malnutrition and anorexia nervosa
• Individuals with severe or persistent diarrhea
• Individuals with malabsorption syndromes, including celiac disease and short bowel syndrome
• Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
• Individuals with alcoholic liver disease who have increased urinary zinc excretion and low liver zinc levels
• Individuals with sickle cell anemia
• Older adults (65 years and older)
• Strict vegetarians: The requirement for dietary zinc may be as much as 50% greater for strict vegetarians whose major food staples are grains and legumes, because high levels of phytic acid in these foods reduce zinc absorption.

Pregnancy Complications

Estimations indicate that 82% of pregnant women worldwide are likely to have inadequate zinc intakes. Poor maternal zinc nutritional status has been associated with a number of adverse outcomes of pregnancy, including low birth weight, premature delivery, labor and delivery complications, and congential anomalies. However, the results of maternal zinc supplementation trials in the U.S. and developing countries have been mixed. Although some studies have found maternal zinc supplementation increases birth weight and decreases the likelihood of premature delivery, two placebo-controlled studies in Peruvian and Bangladeshi women found that zinc supplementation did not affect the incidence of low birth weight or premature delivery. Supplementation studies designed to examine the effect of zinc supplementation on labor and delivery complications have also generated mixed results, though few have been conducted in zinc-deficient populations. A recent systematic review of 17 randomized controlled trials found that zinc supplementation during pregnancy was associated with a 14% reduction in premature deliveries; the lower incidence of preterm births was observed mainly in low-income women. This analysis, however, did not find zinc supplementation to benefit other indicators of maternal or infant health.

Zinc Toxicity

Acute Zinc Toxicity

Isolated outbreaks of acute zinc toxicity have occurred as a result of the consumption of food or beverages contaminated with zinc released from galvanized containers. Signs of acute zinc toxicity are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Single doses of 225 to 450 mg of zinc usually induce vomiting. Milder gastrointestinal distress has been reported at doses of 50 to 150 mg/day of supplemental zinc. Metal fume fever has been reported after the inhalation of zinc oxide fumes. Specifically, profuse sweating, weakness, and rapid breathing may develop within eight hours of zinc oxide inhalation and persist 12-24 hours after exposure is terminated.

Adverse effects

The major consequence of long-term consumption of excessive zinc is copper deficiency. Total zinc intakes of 60 mg/day (50 mg supplemental and 10 mg dietary zinc) have been found to result in signs of copper deficiency. In order to prevent copper deficiency, the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board set the tolerable upper level of intake (UL) for adults at 40 mg/day, including dietary and supplemental zinc. 

Supplement Facts

Suggested Use:  As an addition to the daily diet, take one tablet twice daily or as directed by your health care professional.
Net Contents: 100 tablets

Warnings