Zinc Can Cure Diarrhea

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Zinc Can Cure Diarrhea

Posted by: Dr. Mercola
March 15 2008 | 30,562 views

Zinc supplements reduce both the severity and duration of acute or persistent diarrhea in children, according to researchers from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

The study included data from 22 studies, including 16 that focused on children with acute diarrhea, and six that focused on children with persistent diarrhea.

Compared to placebo, the zinc supplements reduced the occurrence of both types of diarrhea by about 18 percent. The supplements also reduce stool frequency by about 19 percent in children with acute diarrhea, and 13 percent in those with persistent diarrhea.

However, most of the studies also found that zinc supplements were more likely to cause vomiting than placebo.

Sources:

Reuters February 19, 2008

Pediatrics February 2008, Vol. 121 No. 2, pp. 326-336

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Zinc is an essential trace mineral, and there are more biological roles for zinc than for all other trace elements put together. It plays a crucial role in such things as:

Cell growth
Keeping your immune system strong
Stabilizing your metabolic rate
Balancing your blood sugar
Maintaining your sense of taste and smell

It’s well known that one of the symptoms of zinc deficiency is an increased risk of bacterial and viral infections, so it makes sense that boosting your immune system with zinc would also help to ward off diarrhea.

This could be a simple, and inexpensive, way to save the lives of millions of children who die from diarrhea worldwide every year. Another, perhaps even safer, option for treating diarrhea is to take a high-quality probiotic (good bacteria) -- and I advise everyone take probiotics with them when they travel overseas for this very reason.

Should YOU Take a Zinc Supplement?

Reading about all of zinc’s benefits, you may be wondering whether it’s a good idea to take a supplement, just in case. Well, about the only time you may want to consider one would be if you come down with a cold, as zinc lozenges (that you suck on, and don’t just swallow) may help to relieve your symptoms.

However, while zinc is an essential component of human nutrition and deficiency can result in some devastating symptoms, it is important to avoid the conventional paradigm approach to nutrients -- and that is often targeting a specific nutrient for a specific disease.

In reality, nothing is isolated in your body, and taking zinc indiscriminately can be quite problematic. For instance, zinc supplementation may:

Cause you to become deficient in copper, which may lead to anemia
Double your risk of prostate cancer (for men)
Lead to nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and even diarrhea if you take too much

So my personal recommendation would be to hold off on the zinc supplements, and instead increase zinc in your diet from the foods you eat. Some of the best food sources of zinc are:

Liver
Crimini mushrooms
Spinach
Sea vegetables
Pumpkin seeds
Beef
Green peas

And remember, you are unique in which foods -- and which vitamins and minerals -- make you thrive. So you can further tailor which zinc-rich foods are right for you by finding out your nutritional type.