Deep inside your body, dozens of vitamins and minerals play essential roles in your cells and organs, making sure you function optimally. One of the superheroes of our Leapfrog IMMUNE lactoferrin tablets is zinc – an immunity-boosting powerhouse that combats colds and fights inflammation, all while creating new cells and helping us process food efficiently.

What’s Inside Counts

Zinc is one of the most abundant trace minerals in our bodies, second only to iron, and is present in every cell. It plays a prominent role in many processes, including ensuring that our immune systems works properly, in healing wounds, metabolism enzymatic activity, and growth and development for children, teens, and pregnant women.

The biggest problem with zinc, though, is that our body does not naturally produce it. So, if the body doesn’t make it, how do we get it? Well, the first option is to get it through foods high in zinc, such as seafood, beans, chicken, seeds, and yogurt. But, if these foods aren’t your cup of tea, you can also supplement zinc, and, luckily enough, our Leapfrog IMMUNE tablets are a great source of it. One lactoferrin tablet contains 5 mg of zinc, which is the daily requirement for children aged 4, and two tablets contain the daily need for adults.

Zinc & Your Immunity

So, what happens if you don’t get enough zinc? Nothing too drastic at first, but since it is important for many processes in our bodies, a deficiency will affect your body over time and make even simple activities harder than they need to be.

Due to zinc’s role in the immune system, having too little zinc may lead to a weakened immune response, meaning you get sick more often and it takes you longer than normal to shake a cold. But, on the opposite end of the spectrum, consuming more zinc will help you feel better faster. According to a 2017 review of seven studies, having between 80-92 mg of zinc each day can help you reduce the length of the common cold by 33%².

Zinc also plays a big role in reducing inflammation. A study of 40 adults found that, compared to a placebo group, the adults who took in 45 mg of zinc each day had a greater reduction in inflammatory markers¹. Since inflammation may increase the risk of certain chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and mental decline, taking zinc may help to reduce the risk of these diseases.

Not All Zinc Supplements Are Equal

With the help of zinc, you can make sure that your body is functioning at its best. It’s said to even benefit your ability to taste and smell! Zinc comes in several forms, however. Our lactoferrin tablets are composed of zinc citrate, which is a zinc salt that has a high zinc content³. In addition, it is well-absorbed by the body, which means you can experience all the wonderful benefits of zinc.

[1] Bao, B., Prasad, A., Beck, F., Fitzgerald, J., Snell, D., & Bao, G. et al. (2010). Zinc decreases C-reactive protein, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory cytokines in elderly subjects: a potential implication of zinc as an atheroprotective agent. The American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, 91(6), 1634-1641. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28836

[2] Hemilä, H. (2017). Zinc lozenges and the common cold: a meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage. JRSM Open, 8(5), 205427041769429. doi: 10.1177/2054270417694291

[3] Wegmüller, R., Tay, F., Zeder, C., Brnić, M., & Hurrell, R. (2013). Zinc Absorption by Young Adults from Supplemental Zinc Citrate Is Comparable with That from Zinc Gluconate and Higher than from Zinc Oxide. The Journal Of Nutrition, 144(2), 132-136. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.181487