Rev Up Your Immune System With Zinc

Zinc is one of the most crucial nutrients for the immune system as anyone who has tried zinc lozenges to fight off a cold knows. T-cells are important players in the immune system, but T cell function goes down as we age. This new study wanted to see what effect taking zinc wold have on T cells in elderly people with zinc deficiencies. . . .

The study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. 31 elderly nursing home residents who had low levels of zinc were given either 30mg of zinc or a placebo dose of only 5mg of zinc each day for 3 months.

Zinc levels went up by a significant 16% in the zinc group compared to the placebo group. Importantly, supplementing zinc also increased the number of T cells.

This study shows that taking zinc is an effective way to increase zinc levels and the number of T cells in seniors and, hopefully, to improve their defences against infection.

Am J Clin Nutr 2016;doi:10.3945/ajcn.115.115188

For the latest research to keep your family healthy, get The Natural Path delivered to your inbox each month: Subscribe!

For much more on preventing and treating infections and boosting your immune system naturally, see our book The Family Naturopathic Encyclopedia.

For comprehensive help with immunity, make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now.

The Natural Path is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For health problems, consult a qualified health practitioner for a comprehensive program.