Zinc Effects on Your Respiratory System

Apr 28, 2020

Dr. Eric Berg DC

Zinc can have some pretty major effects on your respiratory system. Here’s what you really need to know. 

DATA:

https://insight.jci.org/articles/view…

Timestamps

0:13 Zinc deficiencies— duration of lung infection 

0:20 Zinc deficiencies—decreased T cell function 

1:27 Zinc deficiencies—increased cytokines

2:05 Zinc deficiencies—increased risk of lung infections

2:10 Zinc deficiencies—COPD

2:19 Zinc deficiencies—Increased risk for ARDS, upper respiratory infections, and lower respiratory infections

2:33 Zinc deficiencies—Ventilator-induced injury 

3:24 What to know about a zinc deficiency 

Today we’re going to talk about the effects of zinc on your respiratory system. There is a significant connection between zinc, the immune system, and especially your lungs. 

Potential situations that could occur if you’re deficient in zinc:

• Increased duration of lung infections 

• Diminished T cell function

• Increased cytokines

• Increased risk of lung infections

• People with conditions like COPD are typically deficient in zinc

• Increased risk for ARDS, upper respiratory infections, and lower respiratory infections

• Increased susceptibility of the lungs to ventilator-induced injury 

If you have a lung infection, your body is going to be using so much zinc that chances are you could become deficient. The infection itself can cause a depletion of zinc, and then you lose more of the ability to fight the infection.