Zinc Deficiency

It has been found that many with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have a zinc deficiency.  This can be due to a number of factors.  One is Pyroluria Syndrome which again is common with Autistic Spectrum Conditions.

Causes of Deficiency

• Pyroluria Syndrome
• Low zinc levels in the soil today due to over farming.
• Over processing of food.
• Avoidance of eating meat in large enough quantities.
• Men also use 1-4mg during an ejaculation.

Zinc is found in:

• Lean Meat
• Liver
• Chicken
• Whole grains
• Oatmeal
• Eggs
• Milk
• North Sea Herrings
• Oysters
• Peas
• Carrots
• Green vegetables
• Nuts
• A small quantity in fruit

Key:

• Cu
  Probably caused by a copper excess induced by Zinc deficiency (Copper accumulates in the body in the absence of Zinc)
• B6
  Probably caused by a Vitamin B6 deficiency induced by Zinc deficiency (Zinc is required for the activation of Vitamin B6)
• A
  Probably caused by a Vitamin A deficiency induced by Zinc deficiency (Zinc is necessary to release Vitamin A from the liver where it is stored)
• Cd
  Probably caused by a cadium excess induced by Zinc deficiency (Cadium accumulates in the body in the absence of Zinc)

Common Symptoms
The individual may have a number of the following symptoms, however will not have all.  The symptoms listed cover all ages from birth to old age.

• Fingernails
  • White spots on nails (Leukonychia)
  • Weak nails that peel easily (A)
  • Brittle nails (A)
  • Ultra-thin nails (can cause nail biting)
  • Horizontal ridges on nails (A)
  • Slow nail growth
• Hair Scalp
  • Slow hair growth
  • Brittle hair that breaks or splits easily
  • limp lank hair
  • absence of sheen and lustre (A)
  • Falling hair (Cu, B6)
  • Premature greying or reduced pigmentation
  • Dandruff (B6, A)
  • Dry scales on scalp (A)
  • Oily scales on scalp (and eyebrows, around nose and behind ears) (B6)
  • Long coarse eyebrow hair
  • Sparse beard, pubic and underarm hair
• Skin
  • Stretch marks (Striae)
  • Cracked skin behind ears
  • Small cracks (fissures) in skin on fingertips
  • Tiny blisters on side of fingers
  • Oily skin (seborrhoea) (B6)
  • Dry, itchy skin (A)
  • Rough skin on backs of arms or legs (A)
  • Red spots at base of hairs on front of thighs (glossy skin) (A)
  • Small bumps in skin of side and back of upper arm (A)
  • Acne (A)
  • Boils (A)
  • Warts (A)
  • Mouth ulcers (A)
  • Sore tongue and mouth (B6)
  • Cracks around mouth and split lips (B6)
  • Leg ulcers (together with poor circulation)
  • Dermatitis
  • Eczema (especially around mouth, eyes, nose, vagina, and on hands)
  • Psoriasis (A)
  • Itching in the sunlight
  • Inability to suntan ("china doll" appearance) (B6)
  • Easy sun burning (B6)
  • Brown melanin spots on skin of face and back of hands (together with Vitamin C deficiency)
  • Slow wound healing
  • Fruity body (sweat) odour
•  Eyes
  • Poor night vision (Nyctalopia) (A)
  • Dry eyes (Xerophthalmia) (A)
  • Burning and itchy eyes (A)
  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Aching or tired eyes on close work or reading (A)
  • Eyestrain headache (A)
  • Inflamed eyelids (A)
  • Cracks around eyes (B6)
• Sex Reproduction
  • Underdeveloped sex organs (particularly small penis) (micro phallus)
  • Low sex drive
  • Impotence
  • Un-gratifying sex in males
  • Reduced fertility in both sexes
  • Prostatitis
  • Enlarged prostate gland in elderly
  • Delayed puberty and late onset of periods
  • Menstrual irregularities in teenagers
  • Premenstrual tension (B6)
  • Heavy menstrual bleeding (Menorrhagia) (A)
  • Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (B6)
  • Small for dates babies
  • Miscarriages
  • Stillbirths
  • Early or late labour
  • Prolonged labour
  • Postnatal depression (Cu)
  • Difficulty sustaining lactation
  • Lack of maternal instincts
  • All girl families
  • Congenital defects in offspring (A)
  • Failure to thrive
  • Infections and allergic illness in offspring (e.g. diarrhoea, eczema)
•  Childhood and Adolescence
  • "Growing pains" in muscles and joints (Cu)
  • Hyperactivity (Cu)
  • Autism
  • School phobia
  • Eating dirt and strange substances (pica)
  • Behavioural problems and learning disabilities (Cu)
  • Mental retardation
  • Delinquent and antisocial behaviour (Cu)
  • Reliance on narcotics (drug abuse)
  • Slow growth leading to small stature (A)
• Mental Symptoms
  • Anxiety
  • Tension and nervousness (Cu)
  • Insomnia (Cu, B6, A)
  • Sleepiness (B6)
  • Irritability (Cu, B6)
  • Aggression (Cu)
  • Depression (Cu, B6, A)
  • Tearfulness (Cu)
  • Reduced mental alertness
  • Inability to concentrate (Cu, B6)
  • Forgetfulness and amnesia
  • Apathy
  • Disperception
• Miscellaneous
  • Poor appetite
  • Anorexia Nervousa (Cu)
  • Craving for sweet foods (together with a vitamin B complex deficiency)
  • Poor sense of taste (Hypogeusia)
  • Sweet tooth
  • Poor sense of smell (Hyposmia) (A)
  • Poor dream recall (B6)
  • Nightmares (B6)
  • Susceptibility to infections and cancer through shrinkage of thymus
  • Infections of skin and mucous membranes (e.g. sinuses, lungs, bladder) (A)
  • Susceptibility of epithelial tissue to cancer (A)
  • Frequent colds (A)
  • Frequent cold sores
  • Cold hands and feet (poor circulation)
  • Hypothyroidism (low metabolic rate)
  • Fatigue and lack of energy (A)
  • Stuttering (Cu)
  • Tooth decay
  • Loss of bone from tooth socket and periodontal disease e.g. pyorrhoea (red and retracted gums), crowded overlapping upper incisors (narrow dental arch)
  • Fruity odour to breath
  • Slow reactions
  • Allergies
  • Nasal polyps
  • Swelling of nasal and sinus passageways (sometimes giving rise to a swollen face and nasal twang)
  • Swelling and closure of Eustachian tubes (gives rise to middle ear infections as prevents adequate drainage)
  • Neuralgia in arms and legs (A)
  • Tingling hands (B6)
  • Numbness or cramps in arms and legs (B6)
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome (B6)
  • Anaemia (B6)
  • Reactions to monosodium glutamate (Chinese restaurant syndrome) (B6)
  • Hypoglycaemia (B6)
  • Water retention (B6)
  • Nausea, especially in morning (B6)
  • Diarrhoea
  • Kidney stones (calcium phosphate type) (A)
  • Diabetes
  • Epilepsy
  • Emphysema (Cd)
  • High blood pressure (Cu, Cd)
  • Accelerated atherosclerosis (B6, Cd)
  • Joint pain (especially knee and hip)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (Cu)
  • Menopausal arthritis (B6)
  • Peptic ulcers
  • Migraine (Cu)
  • Confusion in elderly and early senility (Cu)
  • Premature aging (Cu)
  • Psychosis/schizophrenia (Cu, B6)