Zinc

Disclaimer

This fact sheet by the Office of Dietary Supplements provides information that should not take the place of medical advice. We encourage you to talk to your health care providers (doctor, registered dietitian, pharmacist, etc.) about your interest in, questions about, or use of dietary supplements and what may be best for your overall health. Any mention in this publication of a specific brand name is not an endorsement of the product.

Glossary

absorption

In nutrition, the process of moving protein, carbohydrates, fats, and other nutrients from the digestive system into the bloodstream. Most absorption occurs in the small intestine.

age-related macular degeneration

AMD. An eye disease that results in a loss of central, "straight-ahead" vision. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in older Americans.

alcoholic

A person who is not able to stop drinking once he or she has begun, needs to drink larger amounts of alcohol to get high, and suffers withdrawal symptoms (such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety) after stopping drinking.

antibiotic

A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms.

bacteria

Single-celled organisms that are too small to be seen without a microscope. Bacteria are found everywhere and may be helpful or harmful.

beta-carotene

A carotenoid found in carrots, cantaloupe, apricots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, winter squash, mangos, collard greens, spinach, kale, broccoli, and other orange, red, and dark green fruits and vegetables.

calcium

A mineral found throughout the body. Calcium is needed for healthy bones and teeth, for nerves and enzymes to function properly, and for blood clotting. Calcium is found in some foods, including milk, yogurt, and cheese, and in Chinese cabbage, kale, broccoli and fortified foods, such as many drinks, tofu, and cereals.

cell

The individual unit that makes up the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells, which are the smallest units of living structure capable of independent existence.

cognitive function

Mental awareness and judgment.

compound

In pharmacy, a substance that contains more than one ingredient.

copper

In nutrition, a mineral the body needs (along with iron) to make red blood cells. Copper also helps keep the immune system, blood vessels, nerves, and bones healthy. Copper is found in some foods, including oysters and other shellfish, whole grains, beans, nuts, potatoes, organ meats, dark leafy greens, and dried fruits.

Crohn's disease

A long-lasting (chronic) disease that causes severe irritation in the gastrointestinal tract. It usually affects the lower small intestine (called the ileum) or the colon, but it can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. It is painful, causing severe watery or bloody diarrhea, and may lead to life-threatening complications. Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease.

deficiency

An amount that is not enough; a shortage.

deoxyribonucleic acid

DNA. The molecules inside cells that carry genetic information and pass it from one generation to the next.

diarrhea

Loose, watery stools.

dietary supplement

A product that is intended to supplement the diet. A dietary supplement contains one or more dietary ingredients (including vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and other substances) or their components; is intended to be taken by mouth as a pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid; and is identified on the front label of the product as being a dietary supplement.

digestive disorder

An abnormal condition affecting any part of the digestive tract (mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and anus) or organs involved in digestion (such as the stomach, liver, pancreas, or gallbladder). Also called digestive disease.

diuretic

A drug or other substance that increases the amount of urine made by the body.

drug

Any substance (other than food) that is used to prevent, diagnose, treat, or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal condition. Also, a substance that alters mood or body function or that can be habit-forming or addictive, especially a narcotic.

duration

The length of time that something lasts.

fortify

To add nutrients to a food during processing or to replace nutrients lost when a food product is produced or stored. This process is sometimes called enrichment. For example, when calcium is added to processed orange juice, the orange juice is said to be "fortified with calcium." Another example is adding folic acid to flour.

gastrointestinal

GI. Having to do with the gastrointestinal tract (the large, muscular tube that extends from the mouth to the anus, where the movement of muscles and release of hormones and enzymes digest food).

gene

The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information for making a specific protein.

HDL cholesterol

Good cholesterol. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is a type of protein that carries excess cholesterol from the arteries to the liver to be removed from the body.

health care provider

A person who supplies health care services. Health care providers include individuals with professional training (including doctors, nurses, technicians, and aides).

immune system

A group of organs and cells that defends the body against infection, disease, and altered (mutated) cells. It includes the thymus, spleen, lymphatic system (lymph nodes and lymph vessels), bone marrow, tonsils, and white blood cells.

immunity

The condition of being protected against or resistant to an infectious disease.

impotence

In medicine, the inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Also called erectile dysfunction.

infant formula

An artificial form of breast milk.

infection

The invasion and spread of germs in the body. The germs may be bacteria, viruses, yeast, or fungi.

ingredient

In a dietary supplement, an ingredient is a component of the product, such as the main nutrient (vitamin, mineral, herb, amino acid, or enzyme) or any binder, color, filler flavor, or sweetener. In herbal supplements, the common name and Latin name (the genus and species) of the plant is given in the ingredient list. On a dietary supplement label, the ingredients are listed by weight, with the ingredient used in the largest amount first on the list and the ingredient used in the least amount at the end of the list.

interaction

A change in the way a dietary supplement acts in the body when taken with certain other supplements, medicines, or foods, or when taken with certain medical conditions. Interactions may cause the dietary supplement to be more or less effective, or cause effects on the body that are not expected.

IU

International Unit. A measurement used to measure the activity of some vitamins and other biological substances (such as enzymes and hormones).

lozenge

A small, hard candy containing medicine that is dissolved in the mouth.

magnesium

In nutrition, a mineral the body needs for normal muscles, nerves, and bones. It also helps keep a steady heart rhythm, a healthy immune system, normal blood sugar levels and blood pressure, and is involved in making energy and protein for the body. Magnesium is found in some foods, including green vegetables, beans and peas, nuts and seeds, and whole grains.

malnourished

Describes a condition caused by not getting enough calories or the right amount of key nutrients needed for health. Key nutrients include vitamins and minerals.

milligram

mg. A measure of weight. It is a metric unit of mass equal to 0.001 gram (it weighs 28,000 times less than an ounce).

multivitamin/mineral dietary supplement

MVM. A product that is meant to supplement the diet. MVMs contain a variety of vitamins and minerals. The number and amounts of these nutrients can vary substantially by product.

nasal

Having to do with the nose.

nutrient

A chemical compound in food that is used by the body to function and maintain health. Examples of nutrients include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.

pharmacist

A person licensed to make and dispense (give out) prescription drugs and who has been taught how they work, how to use them, and their side effects.

pneumonia

Inflammation of one or both lungs. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, other germs, and injury can cause the lungs to become inflamed and fill with fluid. Symptoms can appear suddenly, range from mild to severe, and may include fever, chills, chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, and difficult breathing. Anyone can develop pneumonia, but it is especially dangerous in babies, older people, and people with weakened immune systems, lung disease, heart disease, or diabetes.

poultry

Birds that are raised for eggs or meat, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.

prescription

A written order from a health care provider for medicine, therapy, or tests.

protein

A molecule made up of amino acids that the body needs for good health. Proteins are the basis of body structures such as skin and muscle, and substances such as enzymes and antibodies.

rheumatoid arthritis

An autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. It may cause severe joint damage, loss of function, and disability. The disease may last from months to a lifetime, and symptoms may improve and worsen over time.

risk

The chance or probability that a harmful event will occur. In health, for example, the chance that someone will develop a disease or condition.

sickle cell disease

An inherited disease in which the body makes abnormal red blood cells that carry less oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. These abnormal red blood cells form clumps that get stuck in the blood vessels, causing pain, infections, and organ damage.

sign

An indication of disease that can be seen and/or measured. Examples include high fever, high blood pressure, infection, and coughing up blood.

symptom

A feeling of sickness that an individual can sense, but that cannot be measured by a healthcare professional. Examples include headache, tiredness, stomach ache, depression, and pain.

thiazide diuretic

A drug used in the treatment of high blood pressure and swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues (edema). It increases the amount of urine made by the body.

treat

To care for a patient with a disease by using medicine, surgery, or other approaches.

ulcer

A sore on the skin or in the lining of an organ or other tissue that deepens as cells die. Ulcers form where swelling, redness, pain, and warmth (inflammation) have killed the cells, then bleed and produce pus.

ulcerative colitis

Chronic inflammation of the colon that causes ulcers to form in its lining. This condition is marked by abdominal pain, cramps, and loose discharges of pus, blood, and mucus from the bowel.

UNICEF

An organization of the United Nations that provides food, clothing, health care, and support to women and children.

urine

Excess liquids and wastes that have been filtered from the blood by the kidneys, stored in the bladder, and removed from the body through the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body).

vegetarianism

The practice of avoiding all or most animal products for environmental, philosophical, and health reasons. Vegetarians (people who practice vegetarianism) eat a diet based on foods that come from plants and may include some dairy products and eggs. See: vegetarian diet.

virus

An organism that can grow and multiply only inside the cells of living humans, plants, or animals. It is able to change (mutate) as it multiplies, which makes viral illnesses difficult to treat. Viruses cause many infections and diseases such as the common cold, AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), herpes, and hepatitis.

vitamin C

A nutrient needed by the body to make collagen (a protein found in cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bone, and blood vessels), to absorb iron from food, and for wound healing. It is an antioxidant and protects cells from free radical damage. Vitamin C is found in some foods including citrus fruits, strawberries, peppers, dark green vegetables, tomatoes, and potatoes. Also called ascorbic acid.

vitamin E

A nutrient needed by the body to help keep the immune system healthy and to repair damage to DNA. It is an antioxidant that protects cells from free radical damage. Vitamin E is found in some foods, including vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, fortified breakfast cereals, and spinach, broccoli, kiwi, and mangos.

World Health Organization

WHO. An agency of the United Nations that is concerned with worldwide health.

zinc

A mineral found in most cells of the body. It helps enzymes work properly, helps maintain a healthy immune system, helps maintain the senses of taste and smell, and is needed for wound healing, making DNA, and normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence. Zinc is found in some foods, including oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, certain seafood, whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products.