Metagenics - Zinc A.G.

Product Notes:

Although present in many foods, certain populations may be deficient in zinc, or have extra requirements for it. Simpler mineral salt supplementary forms may not get well-absorbed and can produce nausea or mild gastric upset, however, so this formulation is made from two "chelated" forms which are both highly absorbable and well tolerated.

In addition to helping those with zinc deficiencies (which may occur in people with certain conditions such as severe diarrhea or cirrhosis of the liver, and can also happen to adults eating a lot of foods containing phytic acid [including potatoes and many grains, seeds, and nuts], which impairs the absorption of the zinc present in the same meals), zinc can be quite effective in treating diarrhea in undernourished or zinc-deficient children, or in helping people with Wilson disease (an inherited disorder that causes copper to build up in many organs).

Related Products: See Metagenics Zinc Drink and Zinc Tally.

Nutritional Support

Taking zinc orally (sometimes in combination with other supplements) may also help delay the progression or relieve the symptoms of a wide range of other conditions or diseases, including:

Acne; Age-Related Macular Degeneration (or AMD, an eye disease); Anorexia Nervosa (an eating disorder); Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Colorectal Adenoma (growths in the large intestine or rectum); Anxiety or Depression; Hypogeusia (a reduced ability to taste); Leishmaniasis lesions (a skin infection from that type of parasite); Muscle Cramps; Osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones); Stomach ulcers, or Venous leg ulcers (leg sores due to weak blood circulation); Preterm Birth (early delivery); Shigellosis (an illness caused by that type of bacteria); Sickle Cell Disease; and Vitamin A deficiency.

Chelated Zinc

To improve the zinc's absorbability and dramatically reduce the chance of incurring side-effects, Zinc A.G. is a combination of two chelated forms, in which the zinc has been bound together (or "complexed") with the molecules of a far more readily-absorbable amino acid, to form small, organic molecules that are many times more likely to get taken up to be properly utilized than inorganic forms are, and are far gentler on the digestive system.

These particular amino acids, arginine and glycine, also have several important biological functions of their own, some of which are quite complementary to zinc's (e.g., arginine also helps with immune function and healing wounds, and glycine and zinc are both involved in protein synthesis, normal cell development, and bone health).

Related Reading: See Ionophores - Boost Your Immunity with Zinc and Quercetin from Nathan Zassman.