Post by misty on Jan 6, 2007 13:03:52 GMT -5
ZINC DEFICIENCY, METAL METABOLISM, AND BEHAVIOR DISORDERS
by William J. Walsh
INTRODUCTION
Most Americans receive all the zinc they need if they have a reasonably well-balanced diet involving the major food groups. However, many persons are born with a metal-metabolism disorder which results in zinc depletion regardless of diet.
A high percentage of behavior disordered persons exhibit abnormal levels of copper, zinc, lead, cadmium, calcium, magnesium and manganese in blood, urine, and tissues, based on chemical analysis results from thousands of patients. With regard to zinc, this condition appears to involve a malfunction of the metal-binding protein metallothionein. Most of these patients have symptoms of zinc deficiency along with depressed levels of zinc in their blood plasma.
The high incidence of zinc deficiency in assaultive young males was illustrated in a recent study1 which found elevated serum copper and depressed plasma zinc concentration, compared to normal controls. This study confirmed our clinical observations of zinc depletion in more than 4,000 behavior disordered patients.
DIAGNOSIS OF ZINC DEFICIENCY
Zinc deficiency is difficult to diagnose since no single laboratory test or combination of tests is decisive in every case. For example, blood levels are sometimes normal in zinc deficient persons due to homeostasis. Urine and hair tissue levels are often elevated in zinc deficiency because of "short circuiting" of zinc through the body and high rates of excretion.
The clinical symptoms associated with zinc deficiency or depletion include the following:
* Eczema, acne, and/or psoriasis10, 11, 12, 13, and 14,
* Poor wound healing, including leg ulcers and oral lesions15 and 16,
* Lines of Beau on the fingernails17,
* Growth retardation18, 19, 20, and 21,
* Delayed sexual maturation22,
* Hypogeusia or poor taste acuity23 and 24, and
* Chronic immunodeficiency and frequent infections25 and 26.
A "working diagnosis" of zinc deficiency can be made if clinical symptoms of zinc deficiency are clearly evident from the initial physical examination and medical history.
Read the full article & studies at:
www.hriptc.org/zinc_deficiency.html
by William J. Walsh
INTRODUCTION
Most Americans receive all the zinc they need if they have a reasonably well-balanced diet involving the major food groups. However, many persons are born with a metal-metabolism disorder which results in zinc depletion regardless of diet.
A high percentage of behavior disordered persons exhibit abnormal levels of copper, zinc, lead, cadmium, calcium, magnesium and manganese in blood, urine, and tissues, based on chemical analysis results from thousands of patients. With regard to zinc, this condition appears to involve a malfunction of the metal-binding protein metallothionein. Most of these patients have symptoms of zinc deficiency along with depressed levels of zinc in their blood plasma.
The high incidence of zinc deficiency in assaultive young males was illustrated in a recent study1 which found elevated serum copper and depressed plasma zinc concentration, compared to normal controls. This study confirmed our clinical observations of zinc depletion in more than 4,000 behavior disordered patients.
DIAGNOSIS OF ZINC DEFICIENCY
Zinc deficiency is difficult to diagnose since no single laboratory test or combination of tests is decisive in every case. For example, blood levels are sometimes normal in zinc deficient persons due to homeostasis. Urine and hair tissue levels are often elevated in zinc deficiency because of "short circuiting" of zinc through the body and high rates of excretion.
The clinical symptoms associated with zinc deficiency or depletion include the following:
* Eczema, acne, and/or psoriasis10, 11, 12, 13, and 14,
* Poor wound healing, including leg ulcers and oral lesions15 and 16,
* Lines of Beau on the fingernails17,
* Growth retardation18, 19, 20, and 21,
* Delayed sexual maturation22,
* Hypogeusia or poor taste acuity23 and 24, and
* Chronic immunodeficiency and frequent infections25 and 26.
A "working diagnosis" of zinc deficiency can be made if clinical symptoms of zinc deficiency are clearly evident from the initial physical examination and medical history.
Read the full article & studies at:
www.hriptc.org/zinc_deficiency.html
