Why is Zinc so important?
Zinc is important for the body for many functions, smell and taste, the immune system, the break down of carbohydrates, cell growth and division. Zinc is important for preconception and during pregnancy for the healthy growth of your baby. Zinc also aids in the function of insulin in the body.
Why is zinc important for a women’s fertility?:
Zinc is known as the essential vitamin for optimum fertility coaching program! Zinc plays an important role in egg development, it aids in the maturing process of healthy eggs.
In a study by Tian et al (2014) showed that zinc deficiency had an effect of egg quality and embryo quality before implantation, zinc deficiency also increased low fertilization of an egg and increased the rate of early miscarriage.
Tian et al (2014) found that zinc deficiency has a long lasting effect on embryos and placental development and implications for the growing baby.
Zinc is needed for the normal functioning of the central nervous system and therefore the normal regulation of sex hormones and insulin to produce a mature egg.
Zinc and fertility for men:
Zinc is needed for the normal function and production of sperm, in a study by Kvist U et al (1987), they found that fertile men had a higher percentage of sperm containing zinc than did infertile men.
Zinc is important for the syntheses and maintaining normal levels of testosterone that are essential for male reproduction.
Zinc is important for the normal chromatin structure in sperm, lower levels of zinc found in sperm lead to decreased levels of normal sperm per ejaculate, and increased chances of miscarriage and infertility.
Where can I find zinc in my diet?
| Food | Serving size | Zinc (mg) |
| Pumpkin seeds | 100g | 10mg |
| Water melon seeds dried | 100g | 10mg |
| Sesame seeds | 100g | 10mg |
| Dark Chocolate | 100g | 9.6mg |
| Liver | 75g | 8.4mg |
| Red meat | 75g | 7mg |
| Oysters | 1 oyster | 5.33mg |
| Lobster | 85g | 3.4mg |
| Turkey | 85g | 2.4mg |
| Yogurt | 226.7g | 2.2mg |
| Cashews | 28.3g | 1.6mg |
| Chickpeas cooked | ½ cup | 1.3mg |
For more foods containing zinc and their content please click on the following link https://www.dietitians.ca/Your-Health/Nutrition-A-Z/Minerals/Food-Sources-of-Zinc.aspx
Zinc Testing:
The most reliable method for testing zinc is, by blood tests to check your levels of zinc, you can start taking zinc and re-test in 6 weeks to check the supplement is working. Another method is a zinc taste test. You can do these with your nutritionist or naturopath today.
The recommended zinc intake per day is 8mg for women and 9mg for men. Men and women looking to conceive the recommended daily does is 15mg/day, if breastfeeding aim for around 23mg/day.
If you feel you are not getting enough zinc in your diet you can talk to a nutritionist at stuido-you, or your local nutritionist about a good supplement.
References:
Tian, X., Anthony, K., Neuberger, T., and Diaz, J, J., (2014). Preconception Zinc Deficiency Disrupts Postimplantation Fetal and Placental Development in Mice ‘Biology of Reproduction’ 90, 4, 83.
Kvist, U., Björndahl, L., Kjellberg, S (1987). Sperm nuclear zinc, chromatin stability, and male fertility. ‘Life Sciences’ 1, 3, 1241-1247.
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