Zinc Penetrator

Background:

Zinc has a large variety of functions in which it participates. It is related to the normal absorption and action of vitamins, especially the B complex. It is involved in at least 25 known enzymes associated with metabolism. Zinc is a prime component of insulin and it is needed to break down alcohol. In fact, zinc has so many applications in clinical nutrition that it is difficult to pick just one area in which to focus this supplement. I have chosen to direct the formulation of this supplement toward skin imbalances. Dr. Jonathan Wright has had great success with atopic eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, and eczematous dermatitis when using zinc. The primary symptom of this kind of eczema is that it appears on the skin in front of the elbows, and behind the knees. Other places it might appear are in the web spaces of the fingers, palms of the hands, wrists, forearms, further down the lower legs, and behind the ears. Zinc also helps other kinds of skin problems too such as acne. I use zinc for any skin problem I find. Most of the time there is significant improvement. Why does zinc work so well for skin? The most plausible reason was put forth from researchers at John Hopkins University. They reported that zinc deficiency suppressed RNA synthesis in the skin but not in the other organs tested. RNA gives instructions for repairing protein tissues, such as skin. It cannot do this when there is a zinc deficiency.

The National Institutes of Health estimates that 15 million people in the United States have some form of eczema. About 10 percent to 20 percent of all infants have eczema; however, in nearly half of these children, the disease will improve greatly by the time they are between five and 15 years of age. Others will have some form of the disease throughout their lives.  Approximately 10 percent to 20 percent of the world population is affected by this chronic, relapsing, and very itchy rash at some point during childhood. Fortunately, many children with eczema find that the disease clears and often disappears with age. In general, atopic dermatitis will come and go, often based on external factors. Although its cause is unknown, the condition appears to be an abnormal response of the body’s immune system. In people with eczema, the inflammatory response to irritating substances overacts, causing itching and scratching. Eczema is not contagious and, like many diseases, currently cannot be cured by medical methods.

Other zinc deficiencies are:

Another fascinating piece of information about the importance of zinc to our overall body, not just the skin, is that it forms “zinc fingers” which regulate genetic function. It comes to us from an article in Scientific American (1993). In order to translate the genetic information in our DNA into amino acids, proteins, messenger RNA, and RNA, certain molecules are required which can read-out the information stored in specific stretches of our DNA. These very specific DNA-reading “transcription factor” molecules can have anywhere from two to 29 “fingers” which fit, like a sophisticated key into a high-precision lock, into highly specific stretches of our DNA. Transcription factors are made from long strings of amino acids, which are folded into highly specific shapes with many “fingers” - somewhat like we fold a ribbon into loops (or “fingers”) to make a Christmas bow. This is the crucial part of the authors’ discovery. The ‘glue’ which forms the straight ribbon of amino acids into fingerlike loops is an atom of zinc, at the base of every “finger”. The conclusions are stunning, powerful, and far-reaching. If there happens to be a zinc deficiency in the organism, the “fingers” of the transcription factors cannot be formed, and although all the genetic information is there, it cannot be transcribed and used by the organism - be this a yeast cell, a frog, a mouse, or a human. Consequently, the organism will be defective, and its metabolism and immune functions will be severely compromised. So even though I am listing this supplement under skin, it has many possibilities to support the human body.

Description of Ingredients:

1. Zinc Picolinate, aspartate, citrate, gluconate, and chelate

These 5 forms of zinc work together to penetrate the cell in the same way as the other “penetrators” that I have created do. They address each level of the cell structure. Their overall direction is toward the layers of the skin. But they will also help the other symptoms listed previously, if there is a zinc deficiency. The gluconate specificallyaddresses acidity and increases alkalinity.

2. Lipase, amylase, protease

This is my signature three digestive enzymes that assist the formula to properly absorb and do their job. You will see it in most all of my formulas.

3. Sucrase

Another digestive enzyme. This one is for excess sugars and is important here because of zinc connection to insulin and digestive blood sugar imbalances.

4. Alpha-Galactosidase

This is the principle enzyme in Bean-O. It helps breakdown certain kinds of proteins and prevents excess intestinal gas from malabsorption. Lack of this enzyme causes a major problem for some marriages after ingestion of too many beans.

5. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)

This is essential as a cofactor to make zinc in any form work better.

6. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)

I use this as a synergist for zinc. Most all parts of the B- complex are useful for proper zinc utilization.

7. Vitamin B1 (thiamine)

Many of the same symptoms found in a zinc deficiency parallel this vitamin. Like the other B vitamins, it is a synergist. Deficiency signs of B1 are: poor memory, headaches, dizziness, irritability, depression, insomnia, apathy, senility, noise sensitivity, fatigue, low HCL acid, constipation, appetite loss, edema, eye muscles freeze, nervous collapse, neuritis in legs and toes like pins and needles. B1 is very helpful to the heart in a multitude of ways. It reduces spasms, strengthens, corrects an erratic beat, and heart racing. B1 corrects a condition known as beri-beri, which produces muscle loss, paralysis in legs, burning in toes, calves and soles, tingling in hands, and swelling in arms, legs, trunk and ankles.

8. Peppermint oil

Used as a digestive aid to soothe the nausea that zinc supplements can sometimes cause.

9. Copper Gluconate

This is essential as a cofactor to make zinc work better. Copper is depleted by excess zinc. The addition of this small amount of copper will rebalance this problem.

10. Folic Acid

I find that folic acid has been greatly underestimated in its need. If it is needed for a developing baby, what about afterwards? We are still growing until age 20. After that the body needs a large amount of folic acid to maintain all the changes that we go through. Zinc utilizes folic acid as a B complex synergist.

11. Vitamin B12

I believe we are in a B12 crisis in this world and folic acid helps to hold B12 in the body as well as working as a synergistic to B12. Both are helpful for zinc utilization.