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About Zinc (erythrocytes)

Zinc levels in erythrocytes reflect longer-term zinc status due to their 120-day lifespan. Zinc is essential for immune function, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. It is found, for example, in meat, shellfish, legumes and nuts.

Zinc is a type of metal and an essential trace element. It’s “essential” because we must obtain it from our diet since our body can’t produce it independently. Apart from iron, it is the second-most-abundant trace mineral in the human body. It is present within all bodily tissues and is needed for healthy cell division.

In the human body, zinc is necessary for the activity of over 300 enzymes and more than 1,000 transcription factors (proteins that control the rate of transcription of genetic information). It acts as a catalyst in enzymatic reactions; that is, it accelerates their function. Working as a structural substance in proteins and cell membranes, it forms the so-called ”zinc finger” – a small protein structural motif to stabilize many DNA-binding proteins (the protein domain). Moreover, zinc prevents damage and oxidative stress in cell membranes. Zinc is an essential trace element that contributes to the health of nails, hair, connective tissues, eyesight, and bones.

It also helps to regulate many steroid hormones and maintain the normal functioning of the immune system. At the cellular level, zinc stabilizes cell membranes and prevents free radical (reactive oxygen species or ROS) damage in cells, especially in stressful states. Zinc has beneficial effects on type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Zinc also promotes cell growth and proliferation and induces controlled and programmed cell death or apoptosis. Thus, zinc is a vital mineral whose deficiencies can cause various disorders and problems in the human body.

Mild zinc deficiency has the following symptoms:

• Brittle nails and hair
• Skin deterioration (for instance, acne and rashes) and increased susceptibility to infections and allergies
• Taste disturbances
• Leaky gut syndrome


The following factors reduce the absorption and bioactivity of zinc in the human body:
• Iron
• Calcium and milk protein
• Phytates in grains, nuts, seeds and legumes – Cadmium (heavy metal)

TOP FOODS THAT ARE HIGH IN ZINC
Source: The National Food Composition Database in Finland (Fineli)

Grain products, nuts and seeds are rich in zinc. However, they are not well absorbed due to phytates and other antinutrients. In general, meat products and internal organs are the best sources of zinc in terms of its absorption.


• Wheat germ (17.8 mg / 100 g); poor absorption of zinc
• Reindeer liver (9.0 mg / 100 g)
• Pork liver (9.0 mg / 100 g)
• Oysters (8.3 mg / 100 g)
• Pumpkin and sunflower seeds (7.5 mg / 100 g); poor absorption of zinc
• Oven-roasted fillet of beef (7.1 mg / 100 g)
• Reindeer roast (6.8 mg / 100 g)
• Fried venison (6.3 mg / 100 g)
• Liver, average value (5.7 mg / 100 g)
• Cashew nuts (5.6 mg / 100 g); poor absorption of zinc
• Fried egg yolk (5.4 mg / 100 g)
• Oat bran (5.0 mg / 100 g); poor absorption of zinc
• Chicken liver (4.5 mg / 100 g)
• Roast lamb (4.4 mg / 100 g)

In sports, zinc plays a vital role in the growth, the building, and the repair of muscle tissue. It also contributes to the normal function of the immune system (including wound healing), and normal mental performance (concentration). Zinc status can also affect physical performance, disturbing thyroid hormone levels and protein use (N R Rodriguez and al., J Am Diet Assoc, 2009). Athletes usually have higher requirements for zinc than sedentary people.

Biostarks reference ranges for zinc

  • Zinc (erythrocytes) (Zn-RBC-S): 35-91 ug/gHb

Scientific references:

  • McCall, K. & Huang, C. & Fierke, C. (2000). Function and mechanism of zinc metalloenzymes. The Journal of Nutrition 130 (5): 1437S–1446S.
  • Berg, J. (1990). Zinc fingers and other metal-binding domains. Elements for interactions between macromolecules. Journal of Biological Chemistry 265 (12): 6513–6516.
  • O’Dell, B. (2000). Role of zinc in plasma membrane function. The Journal of Nutrition 130 (5): 1432S–1436S.
  • Roohani, N. & Hurrell, R. & Kelishadi, R. & Schulin, R. (2013). Zinc and its importance for human health: An integrative review. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences 18 (2): 144–157.
  • Hoang, B. & Han, B. & Shaw, D. & Nimni, M. (2016). Zinc as a possible preventive and therapeutic agent in pancreatic, prostate, and breast cancer. European Journal of Cancer Prevention 25 (5): 457–461.
  • Jayawardena, R. et al. (2012). Effects of zinc supplementation on diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome 4 (1): 13.
  • MacDonald, R. (2000). The role of zinc in growth and cell proliferation. The Journal of Nutrition 130 (5): 1500S–1508S.
  • Truong-Tran, A. & Ho, L. & Chai, F. & Zalewski, P. (2000). Cellular zinc fluxes and the regulation of apoptosis/gene-directed cell death. The Journal of Nutrition 130 (5): 1459S–1466S.
  • Higdon, J. & Delage, B. (2019). Zinc: deficiency. The Linus Pauling Institute’s Micronutrient Information Center (MIC).
  • Lonnerdal, B. (2000). Dietary factors influencing zinc absorption. The Journal of Nutrition 130 (5): 1378S–1383S.
  • Turnlund, J. & King, J. & Keyes, W. & Gong, B. & Michel, M. (1984). A stable isotope study of zinc absorption in young men: effects of phytate and a-cellulose. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 40 (5): 1071–1077.
  • Hambidge, K. & Miller, L. & Krebs, N. (2011). Physiological requirements for zinc. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research 81 (1): 72–78.
  • Roohani, N. & Hurrell, R. & Kelishadi, R. & Schulin, R. (2013). Zinc and its importance for human health: An integrative review. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences 18 (2): 144–157.
  • Hemilä, H. (2011). Zinc lozenges may shorten the duration of colds: a systematic review. The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal 5: 51–58.
  • Allan, G. & Arroll, B. (2014). Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence. Canadian Medical Association Journal 186 (3): 190–199.
  • Prasad, A. & Mantzoros, C. & Beck, F. & Hess, J. & Brewer, G. (1996). Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults. Nutrition 12 (5): 344–348.
  • Liu, Y. et al. & Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism Intervention Study (HHIS) Group (2017). The effectiveness of zinc supplementation in men with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Asian Journal of Andrology 19 (3): 280–285.
  • Prasad, A. & Mantzoros, C. & Beck, F. & Hess, J. & Brewer, G. (1996). Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults. Nutrition 12 (5): 344–348.
  • Kilic, M. et al. (2006). The effect of exhaustion exercise on thyroid hormones and testosterone levels of elite athletes receiving oral zinc. Neuro Endocrinology Letters 27 (1–2): 247–252.
  • Çınar, V. & Talaghir, L. & Akbulut, T. & Turgut, M. & Sarıkaya, M. (2017). The effects of the zinc supplementation and weight training on the testosterone levels. Human Sport Medicine 17 (4): 58–63.
  • Trumbo, P. & Yates, A. & Schlicker, S. & Poos, M. (2001). Dietary reference intakes: vitamin A, vitamin K, arsenic, boron, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, vanadium, and zinc. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 101 (3): 294–301.