A.  Zinc is called the “gatekeeper of immune function.”  Zinc is an essential trace mineral required for the production of T-cells in the thymus gland (located underneath your breastbone).  Without zinc the thymus gland shrinks, what is called thymic involution.  T-cells dock up to pathogens (bacteria, viruses, etc.) and alert the immune system these are foreign to the body and need to be eliminated.  T-memory cells create life-long immunity against infectious diseases.  Generally, T-cells are part of the adaptive immune system and aren’t activated until 5 or 6 days after an infection ensues, which is why bouts of the flu or a cold last 6-7 days.  Zinc lozenges have been shown to shorten the duration of infections.  You can read more here.

Vaccines contain pathogenic bacteria and viruses that provoke T-cell production in the thymus gland.  A zinc deficiency is a primary reason why vaccines are often ineffective.  And for pathogenic bacteria and viruses for which there are no vaccines, zinc adequacy is extremely important.  

Vaccines often are ineffective in the very young and the very old which can be explained by zinc deficiency.

Children often do not consume enough zinc-rich food and older adults often don’t produce adequate amounts of zinc to absorb it properly.

Outside of oysters, there is no single food that provides a sufficient amount of zinc.  Zinc supplementation is suggested across the board, for all age groups, to maintain your immune system. 

A prevalent reason why there is zinc deficiency today is that the overuse of arsenic-laden weed killers (glyphosate) to harvest crops depletes zinc from the soil and from our bodies as it goes up the food chain.

A. Zinc lozenges are generally not for daily use.  They should be used at the first sign of a sore throat, runny nose, fever, etc. 

A.  According the meticulous studies, at the first onset of symptoms, about 90 milligrams of zinc delivered 5 lozenges taken throughout the day produces an optimal effect.  (See the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, May 2017).

For optimal effect, zinc needs to be delivered throughout the day rather than all at once.  Lozenges deliver zinc to the most affected area (ear, nose, throat).  Zinc lozenges need to be kept in the mouth and allowed to slowly dissolve. 

If too much zinc is taken at one time, zinc is then bound to a protein called metallothionein (me-tallo-th-eye-oh-neen).  Metallothionein protects the body from zinc overload.  If zinc is delivered in large single-doses, it may not be bioavailable for use in the body.

A. Yes, if only 1 or 2 lozenges are consumed.  Dr. Ananda Prasad, the world’s leading authority on zinc, suggests up to 45 milligrams of zinc from all sources can be taken per day for adult.  The diet already provides ~10 milligrams of zinc.  Because so many people take multivitamins that provide zinc, taking zinc lozenges and multivitamins may overdose zinc.  Zinc overdose generally won’t cause problems because the body binds excess zinc to metallothionein.  But then you don’t have any available zinc in your body.

A. Vitamin B6 enhances the gastric absorption of zinc.  While zinc in lozenges is largely absorbed in the oral cavity, some does proceed to the digestive tract.

A. Selenium is a trace mineral that is provided in foods in very minute amounts (micrograms).  Selenium induces a small amount of oxidation that knocks zinc off of its carrier protein metallothionein, thus increasing its bioavailability.  Or said another way, zinc increases the release of zinc form metallothionein.  Medically, selenium halts mutations of viruses.

A.  Zinc lozenges were pioneered a number of years ago.  Published scientific reports can be found at the National Library of Medicine PUBMED.gov.

A. Minerals can be attracted to various molecules by their valence (electrons they are able to lose, add or share).  A mineral chelator (key-lay-tor) binds to minerals like zinc.   A zinc ionophore is a substance that is able to transport zinc ions across a lipid (fatty) membrane in a cell.  In other words, ionophores assist zinc to enter cells.  Zinc ionophores block the replication of viruses in a lab dish.  A well-known zinc ionophore is the drug hydroxychloroquine.  Quercetin, a natural molecule found in onions and apple peel, is a zinc ionophore that is provided in Lifespan Nutrition Zinc lozenge.  Boron is another trace mineral that is known to block viral attachment and aid in the conversion of vitamin D to its active form as well as increase the population of T-cells in the body.

A. Zinc and copper need to be balanced in the body.  Intake of zinc should be, as a rule of thumb, 10 times greater than copper.  According to Ananda Prasad MD, intake of 45 milligrams of zinc a day does not alter the zinc copper ratio.  The 92-milligrams of zinc in the recommended 5-lozenges a day is not suggested for long-term use.