(13-03-13) Zinc helps fight infection and inflammation by boosting the body's immune response

by John Phillip

(NaturalNews) Infection from bacterial and viral agents can pose a significant
threat to human health, as it fuels the flames of systemic inflammation known
to contribute to cancer, heart disease, dementia, diabetes and stroke. Many
lifestyle factors, including diet, stress and exposure to environmental and
household toxins contribute to elevated levels of inflammation throughout the
body that never subside, creating a cellular environment that is favorable to
disease propagation. Fortunately, there are a number of natural compounds and
nutrients that help combat inflammation and lower risk of infection and chronic
disease.

A research team from Ohio State University has released the result of a study
revealing how zinc helps control infections by gently tapping the brakes on the
immune response in a way that prevents out of control inflammation that can be
damaging and even deadly. Working with human cell cultures, the scientists have
demonstrated how a specific protein ushers zinc into key cells that stimulate a
critical immune response to fight against infection. The mineral interacts with
a cellular process that neutralizes infection and helps balance the normal
immune response.

Zinc activates the innate immune response to help fight viral and bacterial
pathogens
Scientists present groundbreaking work that demonstrates for the first time
how zinc disables an important pathway to effectively ensure that the immune
response does not spiral out of control in response to an infection, and
similarly to perpetually elevated levels of inflammation referred to as
systemic. Senior study author, Dr. Daren Knoell commented "Without zinc on
board to begin with, it could increase vulnerability to infection... our work
is focused on what happens once you get an infection... if you are deficient in
zinc you are at a disadvantage because your defense system is amplified, and
inappropriately so."

Monocytes, which are white blood cells that provide the first line of defense
against an invading pathogen, were extracted from human blood samples to
determine what happens when the immune response is launched. Researchers found
that when a pathogen is detected, a series of complex responses occur to wake
the innate immune response utilizing the nuclear-factor kappa beta pathway (NF-
kB). The team showed that once NF-kB is activated, a gene is expressed that
allows zinc to be ushered from the bloodstream into the cell where it can bind
with proteins that block the activity of the pathogen and halt excess
inflammation.

Dr. Knoell concluded, "We believe that our findings help to narrow an
important gap that has existed in our understanding of how this relatively
simple metal helps us defend ourselves from infection." Zinc deficiency affects
two billion people around the world, representing an estimated 40 percent of
the elderly in the U.S., and helps to explain why our aging population is
unable to fight the most common infections. Dietary sources of zinc include
beans, nuts, some shellfish, whole grains, fortified cereals and dairy
products. Health-minded individuals may want to avoid meat, dairy and grain
sources and supplement with 15 to 25 mg per day to fight infection and systemic
inflammation.

Sources for this article include:

http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/zip8.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130207131344.htm
http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com

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