Monday, March 18, 2024
HomeHealthDoes Zinc Help With Allergies

Does Zinc Help With Allergies

Lets Take A Look At The Science

Loss of Smell (Anosmia): THE Solution

Overall, the research behind using supplemental vitamin C for allergies is pretty limited. Plus, most of the available studies focus on intravenous vitamin C, not oral supplementation.

Thats an important callout because IV vitamin C is completely different from oral vitamin C supplements. This IV treatment usually contains much higher doses, and its typically given in a clinical setting.

How Your Gut Is Connected To Hay Fever And Allergies

I bet you are wondering, how can my water eyes, running nose and sneezing be connected to my gut?. As you may have noticed today, there are studies coming out linking all sorts of conditions and diseases to the health of your gut. Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, is no different.

For starters our digestive system plays a huge role in the balance of our immune system. Almost 70% of our entire immune system is located in our gut. For hay fever and other allergic diseases the hygiene hypothesis was thought to have a role in the increase in allergies, with the lack of exposure to microbes in early life increasing the risk of allergies in later life. Now something called the ‘microbiota hypothesis’ is thought to play a role, meaning a change in our gut bugs influence the development of our immune system. Although allergies are also influenced by genetics, some of the environmental and lifestyle factors that change your gut bacteria and increase your risk for allergies include infant use of antibiotics, formula feeding and being born by caesarean section. Oppositely, growing up with pets, growing up on a farm, being born through vaginal delivery and being breast fed has been linked to positively influencing your guts flora to include more protective strains.

What your body does in an allergic reaction

The gut-lung connection

Histamine and your gut

How to improve your allergy symptoms

Visit Village Emergency Centers

Seasonal allergies can be a pain, but is here to help! If you still wonder does vitamin C help with allergies, give us a ! Our experienced doctors have years of experience and are here to help you. Should you experience any severe allergic reactions, seasonal or otherwise, please do not hesitate to come into one of our across the Greater Houston area.

  • locations

Read Also: Can Allergies Cause Lost Voice

Role Of Zinc In Basophil

Basophils represent less than 1% of peripheral blood leukocytes. Like mast cells, they express FcR on the cell surface and release cytokines and chemical mediators in response to FcR activation . Under physiological conditions, basophils circulate in the blood while mast cells reside in peripheral tissues. Infiltration of basophils into peripheral tissues is often observed in allergic inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis and bronchial asthma. Basophils have long been neglected in immunological studies due to their small numbers and morphological similarity to mast cells, but they are now recognized as a major source of cytokines such as IL-4 and TSLP that promote Th2-type allergic responses . However, the molecular mechanisms of IL-4 production and the requirement of zinc in basophils have not been fully elucidated.

It has been reported that zinc-binding metallothionein proteins are required for FcR-induced IL-4 production in human and mouse basophils . Transcription of Mt-1 and Mt-2 is significantly elevated after FcR stimulation in primary mouse basophils, while the expression of Zips, ZnTs, Mt-3, and Mt-4 is not affected. Furthermore, FcR-induced IL-4 production in basophils was inhibited in the absence of Mt-1 and Mt-2. It has also been shown that MTs are selectively required for FcR-induced calcineurin /nuclear factor of activated T cells signaling . Finally, Ugajin et al. indicated the requirement of MTs for IL-4 production by human basophils .

How To Use Allergy With Zinc Cream

Can zinc help your allergies?

Use this medication only on the skin as directed by your doctor. If you are self-treating, follow all directions on the product package. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Some products may need to be shaken well before use.

Before applying, clean the affected area with soap and water. Gently pat dry. Apply to the affected area as directed, usually no more than 3 to 4 times a day. Wash hands immediately after use, unless the area being treated includes the hands.

Do not use on large areas of the body or use more often than directed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase.

Avoid getting the product in your eyes, nose, ears, or mouth. If the medication gets in these areas, wipe it off and rinse the area right away with water.

Stop using this product and tell your doctor if your condition worsens, if symptoms do not improve within 7 days or persist after 7 days of treatment, or if symptoms clear up and return in a few days. If you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.

Read Also: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec

So Why Are There So Many Allergies

A survey was published in 2018 that looked at the diets of UK adults. It highlighted potential deficiencies in both zinc and potassium. The group that was most at risk were the 20-29 age bracket.

It’s possible that this is the age that likes to eat on the run. There may be more processed meals eaten and more take-outs.

There are no stores of zinc in the body. This is why it’s important to get enough on a daily basis. It may be easy to be run low during a busy or tiring period. We need between 7-9.5 mg of zinc a day.

Reasons why you may be low on zinc:

  • You eat on the run and eat a lot of processed food.
  • You have been ill and had a period of time with a poor appetite.
  • You hate meat and beans
  • You are allergic to dairy and eat a lot of white bread
  • You are a potato waffle vegan this is what we call vegans who hate vegetables and homemade food.

So, if you have allergies and think you may be low on zinc, please have lovely food. Try some peanut butter on soda bread. A hearty bean stew or chicken soup. Doesn’t that sound much better than itching and sneezing?

Try looking at our recipe hub for some delicious tips and ideas.

What Are Some Other Side Effects Of This Drug

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

You May Like: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec

How Do I Store And/or Throw Out This Drug

All oral products:

  • Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.

Injection:

  • If you need to store this drug at home, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

All products:

  • Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Zinc And Allergy Relation

Should I Take ZINC Supplements? Benefits & Research In 2020

Verify Captcha

Regret for the inconvenience: we are taking measures to prevent fraudulent form submissions by extractors and page crawlers. Please type the correct Captcha word to see email ID.

Department of Pediatrics, Research and Training Hospital of Sakarya University, Turkey

Correspondence: Öner Özdemir, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Research and Training Hospital of Sakarya University, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University, Adnan Menderes Cad, Sagl?k Sok No: 195, Adapazari, Sakarya, Turkey, Tel 90-264-444-54-00, Fax 90-264-275-91-92

Received: May 05, 2014 | Published: May 13, 2014

Citation: Ozdemir O Zinc and Allergy Relation. MOJ Immunol 1: 00005 DOI: 10.15406/moji.2014.01.00005

You May Like: What Foods To Avoid If You Have A Latex Allergy

The Real Science Behind Zinc And Elderberry Supplementation For Viral Infections

Dr. Stenglers News and Breakthroughs

The Real Science Behind Zinc and Elderberry Supplementation forViral Infections

There have been some myths circulating on the Internet in regards to nutritional supplements and their role in viral infections and especially COVID-19. In this article, I will address claims made about the mineral zinc and the herb elderberry.

Let me begin by noting that is that there is no published research demonstrating that any nutritional supplement cures COVID-19. I know most of you are aware of that, but for those of you reading my materials for the first time, you will find that I focus on the scientific and clinical experience when making recommendations. There is a lot of nutritional gurus who in their passion for nutritional therapies make claims that range from the exaggerated to complete fabrications. Yet on the other end of the spectrum are those who refuse to believe there is any validity to nutritional and holistic therapies. They too, are unscientific and guilty of misleading people away from valid therapies. Without a doubt, there is good scientific evidence that certain foods, lifestyles, and several nutritional supplements are proven to support a healthy immune response and have antiviral effects.

False Claim #1

Zinc must be used in the lozenge form to have an antiviral effect

Children and adolescents

Role Of Zinc In Inflammatory And Allergic Responses

The relationship between zinc homeostasis and immune function has been examined in a number of studies. The impact of single nutrient deficiency on immune response has been demonstrated by zinc homeostasis studies using experimental mouse and rat models. In addition, zinc deficiency is a frequent problem in humans and is associated with many chronic diseases. It is important to note that chronic diseases such as gastrointestinal disorders, chronic diarrhea, cirrhosis, renal disease, sickle cell anemia, some types of cancer, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic insufficiency, and autoimmune arthritis in humans can lead to a suboptimal zinc status . Interestingly, zinc-containing compounds such as polaprezinc have been reported to improve the symptoms of autoimmune diseases in animal models . It has been suggested that the amelioration of autoimmune diseases by zinc occurs by inhibiting T cell activation, though detailed mechanisms involved in this process have not been elucidated.

Kitabayashi et al. hypothesized that zinc signaling might target proteins involved in inflammation and autoimmune diseases . One such target protein is signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 , which is a signaling molecule for the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6. The authors were particularly interested in how zinc affects the differentiation of Th17 cells that was known to be controlled by IL-6-induced STAT3 activation .

Don’t Miss: Can Allergies Cause Drowsiness

Association Between Serum Zn Levels And Allergic Sensitization

The 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile value of serum Zn levels were 31.0, 82.0, and 250.0 kU/L, respectively. Estimated mean serum total and allergen-specific IgE levels between Q1 and Q4 both before and after adjusting for covariates are shown in Table 2. Before adjusting for covariates, total and dog-specific IgE levels tended to increase as Zn levels decreased from Q4 to Q1, and these associations were statistically significant . Upon adjusting for covariates , the negative correlation between serum Zn levels and total and allergen-specific IgE levels was more pronounced. As Zn levels decreased from Q4 to Q1, mean total IgE, D. farinae and dog-specific IgE levels increased significantly . However, the relationship between cockroach-specific IgE levels and serum Zn levels was not statistically significant, either before or after adjusting for covariates.

Zinc Might Help Shorten Your Cold Or Flu

Does Zinc Help With Allergies?

HealthDay Reporters

TUESDAY, Nov. 2, 2021 — Many people pop a zinc supplement at the first sign of a cold, and there’s new evidence supporting the habit.

Australian researchers found that the supplements appear to help shorten respiratory tract infections, such as colds, flu, sinusitis and pneumonia.

Many over-the-counter cold and cough remedies offer only “marginal benefits,” the researchers noted, making “zinc a viable ‘natural’ alternative for the self-management of non-specific .”

The study was led by Jennifer Hunter, associate professor at the NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University in Penrith, New South Wales. Her team published the findings Nov. 2 in the BMJ Open.

According to Hunter’s team, zinc as a nutrient has gained attention from researchers because it’s known to play an important role in immunity, inflammation, tissue injury, blood pressure and in tissue responses to any lack of oxygen.

To learn more about zinc’s potential, the investigators reviewed more than two dozen clinical trials that included more than 5,400 adults. All were published in 17 English and Chinese research databases up to August 2020. None of them specifically examined the use of zinc for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

Lozenges were the most common form of zinc intake, followed by nasal sprays and gels, the research team said. Doses varied substantially, depending on the formulation and whether zinc was used for prevention or treatment.

More information

Don’t Miss: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec

Clothing Infused With Zinc Oxide: Zinc Oxide Fabric Is Effective In Treating Eczema

Zinc oxide impregnated textiles have been tried in vivo for the management of atopic dermatitis in a study and a significant improvement was observed in the disease severity, pruritus, and subjective sleep in patients who wore zinc oxide-impregnated textiles than in control group. These zinc oxide-functionalized textiles could be the upcoming treatment modality of choice for atopic dermatitis for the future.

Vitamin C May Affect Your Histamine Levels

A small 2013 study with 89 people found that when peeps with and without allergies were given high dose 7.5-gram injections of vitamin C, it led to a significant reduction in histamine. Histamine is a compound that plays a key role in the bodys inflammatory response.

Histamines released from cells in your immune system and causes allergy symptoms like itching and stuffy nose. So, theoretically, reducing the amount of histamine in your system may help reduce allergy symptoms.

Also Check: Can You Suddenly Develop Food Allergies

Contact Natural Bio Health Today

Our team is dedicated to helping you understand the numerous factors that may be preventing optimal health. Learn more about taking control of your health. Join the wellness journey to achieve optimal health, fight disease and boost immune health to combat viruses. Visit naturalbiohealth.com.

Our team of specialists understands our patients concerns about office safety during the time of COVID-19. We are proud to offer telemedicine services through video and phone calls. We are also seeing patients in person at our offices, but are abiding by new, strict safety precautions. To schedule your appointment, contact us here. We serve patients in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Round Rock, and College Station.

So Whats The Final Word

Importance of Zinc for the Immune System

If youre able to start taking zinc at the very first signs of your cold and it doesnt upset your stomach, its likely safe for you to use it as a preventive measure. If you have any concerns, reach out to your doctor.

If you are in the Los Angeles area and are looking for exceptional care from some of the top physicians in the world, be sure to request an appointment or call USC-CARE .

Also Check: Are Sour Patch Kids Peanut Free

What Is Zinc Oxide

As you probably guessed, zinc oxide is made from zinc, a type of metallic element found in nature that is now used in many different electronic, chemical and household products. Just like other elemental metals, including iron or electrolytes like magnesium, zinc is able to carry a certain electric charge that gives it special benefits within the body.

Zinc benefits affect different systems of the body, including the immune system, digestive tract, brain and skin where it is used as a type of important building block for protein synthesis, enzyme creation and metabolic processes.

While zinc itself can be found in nature, zinc oxide is not naturally occurring. Rather its created when zinc is chemically heated and combined with oxygen molecules.

The two elements are vaporized, condensed and formed into a powder that is fine, white, crystallized and sits on top of the skin to provide a protective layer.

Recent breakthroughs in zinc oxide particle size have led to a major increase in zinc oxide cream and zinc oxide sunscreen. Beginning in 2008, researchers created nano-sized zinc oxide particles, resulting in a revolution in sunscreen and skin care.

An advanced formula of zinc oxide is now capable of being applied to the skin without leaving behind a thick, white film, therefore opening the doors for much wider acceptance of natural sunscreen products. However, the jury is still out if these nanoparticles are truly safe.

Vitamin C May Help Folks With Asthma

A small 2013 research review that included 3 studies found that supplemental vitamin C in varying doses between 1 and 5 g may be effective for reducing asthma attacks and bronchial sensitivity in people with asthma.

Plus, a small, older 2005 study suggested that vitamin C supplements may help peeps with asthma decrease their dose of corticosteroid medication. But theres no current research backing up these findings.

A 2014 research review showed that vitamin C supplementation may be helpful for reducing exercise-induced airway narrowing, which is common in people with asthma.

Also Check: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec

Consumer Information Use And Disclaimer

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care providers examination and assessment of a patients specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at .

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular