Zinc

Disclaimer

This fact sheet by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) 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 product or service, or recommendation from an organization or professional society, does not represent an endorsement by ODS of that product, service, or expert advice.

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.

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.

cholesterol

A substance found throughout the body. It is made by the liver and is an important component of cells. Cholesterol is also used to make hormones, bile acid, and vitamin D. Foods that come from animals contain cholesterol, including eggs, dairy products, meat, poultry and fish. High blood levels of cholesterol increase a person's chance (risk) of developing atherosclerosis and heart disease.

common cold

A nose and throat infection caused by a virus. Symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, congestion, sore throat, and cough.

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.

dairy food

Milk and products made with milk, such as buttermilk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, and ice cream.

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 fiber

A substance in plants that you cannot digest. It adds bulk to your diet to make you feel full, helps prevent constipation, and may help lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Good sources of dietary fiber include whole grains (such as brown rice, oats, quinoa, bulgur, and popcorn), legumes (such as black beans, garbanzo beans, split peas, and lentils), nuts, seeds, fruit, and vegetables.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Advice from the federal government to promote health and reduce the chance (risk) of long-lasting (chronic) diseases through nutrition and physical activity. The Guidelines are updated and published every 5 years by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture.

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.

dose

The amount of medicine or other substance taken at one time or over a specific period of time.

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.

fortified

When nutrients (such as vitamins and minerals) are added to a food product. For example, when calcium is added to orange juice, the orange juice is said to be "fortified with calcium". Similarly, many breakfast cereals are "fortified" with several vitamins and minerals.

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.

homeopathy

An alternative medical system based on the ideas that "like cures like" (a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people) and the "law of minimum dose" (the lower the dose of medication, the greater its effectiveness). Homeopathic remedies are made from plant, mineral, or animal substances and are available as pills placed under the tongue, ointments, gels, drops, and creams.

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.

infant

A child younger than 12 months old.

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.

label

When referring to dietary supplements, information that appears on the product container, including a descriptive name of the product stating that it is a "supplement"; the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; a complete list of ingredients; and each dietary ingredient contained in the product. Supplements must also include directions for use, nutrition labeling in the form of a Supplement Facts panel that identifies each dietary ingredient contained in the product and the serving size, amount, and active ingredients.

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).

mineral

In nutrition, an inorganic substance found in the earth that is required to maintain health.

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.

nausea

The uneasy feeling of having an urge to throw up (vomit).

neurologic

Having to do with nerves and the nervous system.

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.

Office of Dietary Supplements

ODS, Office of Disease Prevention, Office of Director, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. ODS strengthens knowledge and understanding of dietary supplements by evaluating scientific information, stimulating and supporting research, disseminating research results, and educating the public to foster an enhanced quality of life and health for the US population.

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.

supplement

A nutrient that may be added to the diet to increase the intake of that nutrient. Sometimes used to mean dietary supplement.

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.

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.

upper limit

UL. The largest daily intake of a nutrient considered safe for most people. Taking more than the UL is not recommended and may be harmful. The UL for each nutrient is set by the Food and Nutrition Board at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. For example, the UL for vitamin A is 3,000 micrograms/day. Women who consume more than this amount every day shortly before or during pregnancy have an increased chance (risk) of having a baby with a birth defect. Also called the tolerable upper intake level.

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).

US Department of Agriculture

USDA promotes America's health through food and nutrition, and advances the science of nutrition by monitoring food and nutrient consumption and updating nutrient requirements and food composition data. USDA is responsible for food safety, improving nutrition and health by providing food assistance and nutrition education, expanding markets for agricultural products, managing and protecting US public and private lands, and providing financial programs to improve the economy and quality of rural American life.

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

A nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to function and maintain health. Examples are vitamins A, C, and E.

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.

whole grain

Unprocessed seeds of edible grasses, including brown rice, buckwheat, bulgur, millet, popcorn, oats, quinoa, whole-grain barley, whole rye, whole wheat, and wild rice. Grains that are ground, cracked, or flaked can be labeled whole grain if they have the same amount of bran, germ, and endosperm (the inner part of the seed kernel) as the intact grain. Whole grains are sources of iron, magnesium, selenium, B vitamins, and dietary fiber. Eating whole grains may help lower the risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

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.