Zinc is a chemical element. It occurs more frequently on earth than copper or lead.
Zinc is essential for all living things and is a component of important enzymes, such as alcohol dehydrogenase. Zinc has many different functions in the body. It has key roles in sugar, fat and protein metabolism and is involved in building up the DNA and in cell growth. Both the immune system and many hormones need zinc to function. Zinc also supports the immune system.
The trace element cannot be stored in the body, it must be supplied regularly from the outside. Due to poor dietary habits, zinc deficiency is not uncommon even in Western countries, especially among infants, seniors, adolescents and women of childbearing age. It is estimated that two billion people worldwide suffer from zinc deficiency and that this deficiency is partly responsible for the death of one million children per year.
