Zinc
Medical research shows that for people who are low in zinc, supplements can dramatically speed up the healing of surgical incisions. In a study by researchers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, people taking 220 mg of zinc sulfate three times a day were completely healed in roughly 46 days, while a group taking no zinc required about 80 days to heal.

Zinc, like vitamins A and C, is needed in the body for many functions. It is necessary for the production of collagen, the connective tissue that allows scars to form. It interacts with vitamin A, making the vitamin available for use and it plays a vital role in immune function.

The people most likely have a zinc deficiency include those who have:

* lost a lot of fluid,
* lost weight because of loss of appetite,
* experienced loss of taste,
* been suffering from colds and infections,
* slow healing,
* bedsores,
* skin changes, and
* depression.

Dosage
Zinc can be taken with a good multivitamin and mineral supplement. Daily 15 to 30 mg is useful. It is necessary to increase the copper, iron and selenium if more than 30mg zinc is being taken.

Special Notes

* Zinc is thought to be non-toxic, although very high does can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
* Try to avoid drinking coffee and tea in the same meal as taking zinc as they can inhibit its metabolism.
* The best forms of zinc are zinc citrate, zinc gluconate, zinc picolinate and zinc monomethionine.

Article excerpted from healthy-vitamin-choice.com