The Facts:
* A well-controlled trial in 50 healthy elderly people examined the use of oral zinc supplementation (45mg elemental zinc per day) on the incidence of infections.
* Zinc reduced the number of infections over a 1-year period compared with placebo.
* Blood tests from treated patients showed zinc to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Shaun’s comment: This was a smallish study and if the results are found in large studies then they are very important. The immune system does not function as effectively when we are older and lower zinc levels may be part of this reason. A simple zinc supplement reduced infections in the group who took it and this finding was supported from results from certain markers of immunity and inflammation in the blood tests. Some multivitamins contain zinc, so you may be able to get it that way or you could take a specific zinc supplement.
Study reference:
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/3/837
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