Zinc Deficiency, Infertility and Your Child’s Mood and Behavior

Zinc deficiency can be passed on from parent to child, and it plays a critical role in fertility and gene programming alterations during pregnancy that can result in your child’s lifelong vulnerability to high oxidative stresses.

As we gear up for back to school I want you to consider the #1 item you forgot to get.

It’s called zinc.

Zinc is well-known as an important factor in immune system health, but did you know it’s also a critical component in regulating your child’s mood and behavior? Let’s break down the science of zinc deficiency, which I explain in great detail in my High Zinc Cookbook.

What Is Zinc and Why Is It So Important?

Zinc is an essential trace element that helps stimulate the activity of over 300 different enzymes (enzymes are molecules that speed up chemical reactions in cells, for example, aiding digestion and metabolism) and 1000 transcription factors (transcription factors are proteins involved in DNA conversions).

It is the second most abundant trace metal after iron and because of this, I call zinc a “master” mineral due to its ability to significantly impact all body systems, especially the brain.

Zinc is powerful in its ability to enhance resistance to stress, maintain intellectual function, memory, and mood levels, and for its critical role in cell development and gene expression.

Most zinc is found in the brain, followed by muscle, bones, kidney, and liver, with the highest concentrations in the prostate and parts of the eye (Wapnir, 1990). Once in the liver, zinc is converted to zinc metallothionein (cysteine-rich proteins with powerful antioxidant properties), then transported to cells throughout the body (Walsh, 2012).

Why Is Zinc Deficiency A Problem?

Pre and postnatal development are of critical concern because zinc deficiency can be passed from parent to child. This significantly affects not only growth, development, and immune function, but your child’s ability to think, feel, and act, which can lead to behavioral disorders, ADHD, autism, depression, eating disorders, anxiety, and schizophrenia, to name a few.

Zinc deficiency in parents before conception can cause miscarriage, fetal growth restrictions, learning disabilities, mental health challenges, and can even influence gender. This is because it takes more zinc to create a male than a female. While there is no way to determine gender, I almost always see zinc deficiency in couples that miscarry males and only produce girls.

Zinc deficiency is the most frequently observed chemical imbalance in mental health and cognitive functioning. More than 90% of individuals diagnosed with depression, anxiety, behavioral disorders, ADHD, autism, and schizophrenia exhibit depleted plasma zinc levels. Additionally, most mental health disorders involve oxidative stress that depletes zinc stores in the body (Walsh, 2012).

Discover the impact of zinc deficiency on your health and how to address it effectively.

Zinc is necessary to produce neurotransmitters and hormones. Serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, and dopamine all require the right balance for health and happiness.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects mood, appetite, digestion, sleep, memory, and libido. Norepinephrine is a stress hormone that is released from the sympathetic nervous system in response to stress. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), is a neurotransmitter that inhibits or reduces the activities of neurons or nerve cells. Low levels of GABA are linked to anxiety, which is why GABA supplements have a calming effect. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that affects emotion, movement, and sensations of pleasure/reward and pain.

As a Functional Nutrition expert, I explore how Zinc Deficiency can impact your overall health. Learn more about its connection to mental health and ways to address it on our Zinc Deficiency and Depression page.

Symptoms and Conditions Associated With Zinc Deficiency

Acne Anxiety Arthritis Brain fog Delayed growth Depression Digestive disorders such as yeast toxicity (candida and other forms of yeast) Dizziness Epilepsy Fatigue Food and chemical sensitivities

Hair loss Headaches Hormone imbalances Hyperactivity (especially in children) Hypogonadism Impaired protein metabolism Inability to tolerate stress Infertility Joint pain Learning problems Loss of appetite Loss of taste for meat Miscarriage Migraines Nausea

Pale skin Poor immune function Poor memory Poor tanning ability Poor wound healing Poor wound healing Premature greying of the hair Short stature Skin disorders Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) Sun sensitivity Temper control problems White spots on nails

Disorders and Syndromes Associated With Zinc Deficiency

ADHD/ADD Alzheimer’s disease Anorexia Autism Bipolar disorders Breast cancer Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

Endometriosis Fibromyalgia Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) Osteoporosis Ovarian cancer Panic disorders Parkinson’s disease

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Postpartum depression (PPD) Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Schizophrenia

Zinc deficiency, along with the other nutrient imbalances and overloads I work with, such as copper toxicity, pyrrole disorder (a double deficiency of zinc and vitamin B6), and methylation imbalances, can be safely corrected with dietary and nutrient therapy.

 

References

Walsh, W. J. (2012). Nutrient Power: Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain. New York, NY: Skyhorse.
Wapnir, R. A. (1990). Protein Nutrition and Mineral Absorption. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press.