Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral whose anti-inflammatory effects are largely mediated through the carbonic anhydrase enzyme, which regulates the balance between carbon dioxide and bicarbonate. 1 Peat emphasized that zinc’s role in this enzyme system makes it a fundamental part of the body’s defense against stress and inflammation, working through the metabolism of carbon dioxide. 1 He also described the protein-synthesizing function of zinc as analogous to vitamin A in its capacity to accelerate healing. 5

A deficiency of zinc has a distinct and clinically observable presentation. Peat noted that white stripes across the finger-nails, especially on the right hand, are a reliable indicator of a zinc deficiency, with menstruation being a common cause of loss in women, leading to multiple spots evenly spaced up the nail. 7 The deficiency is also connected to the loss of smell and taste, as zinc is an essential factor for the olfactory nerves and taste nerves. 2 Peat explained that stress of any sort increases the protein metallothionein, which can carry zinc out of the body and produce a functional deficiency. 4 A zinc deficiency is often associated with a deficiency of vitamin B6 and an excess of copper, and since estrogen is associated with zinc loss, other nutrients including vitamin E and folic acid should be considered when deficiency signs appear. 7

Regarding supplementation, Peat advised caution despite the mineral’s importance. He stated that taking 5 or 10 mg of zinc orally can replenish the body’s stores in a few days, but the supplement can oxidize other nutrients in the stomach or intestine, making it unsuitable for long-term use. 2 He clarified that zinc is not directly an oxidant, but when used as a chemical supplement it can cause problems that it would not in the form of foods, and that both vitamin A and zinc are essential in the right amount for good skin health, but too much of either can disturb immune function. 3 Topically, zinc oxide ointment has been observed to speed healing, and zinc chloride dissolved in vegetable oil was found to raise blood zinc very effectively when painted onto the skin. 7 Peat also noted the safety of a eugenol and zinc paste for dental applications, describing the compounds as very safe. 6

The broader physiological context of zinc is tied to thyroid function and energy metabolism. Danny Roddy has written that zinc status influences the enzymatic conversion of T4 to T3 and helps facilitate the transport, storage, and utilization of vitamin A. 9 Georgi Dinkov and Roddy have discussed a bidirectional relationship between thyroid and zinc, noting that zinc transporters in the intestine are activated specifically by thyroid hormone, making the isolated chasing of mineral ratios a fool’s errand outside the context of overall metabolic rate. 8 Peat’s historical analysis also revealed that the early experiments on polyunsaturated fats by George and Mildred Burr were confounded by a diet specifically deficient in vitamin B6 and zinc, underscoring the mineral’s foundational role in metabolic research. 10