Evidence supporting the use of: Zinc
For the health condition: Infection (bacterial)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3
Zinc is an essential trace element that plays a crucial role in immune function. Its use in supporting or treating bacterial infections is primarily scientifically validated, particularly in specific contexts. Numerous studies have shown that zinc supplementation can reduce the duration and severity of certain infections, especially in populations at risk for deficiency, such as children in developing countries. For example, zinc supplementation has been shown to decrease the incidence and duration of acute diarrheal illnesses in children, which are often caused by bacterial pathogens. Additionally, zinc helps maintain the integrity of mucosal barriers and supports the function of immune cells such as neutrophils and natural killer cells.
However, the evidence for zinc’s effectiveness against a broad range of bacterial infections is mixed. While it is a well-established adjunct for diarrhea and may support immune function in respiratory infections, robust evidence for its use in treating severe systemic bacterial infections (like pneumonia or sepsis) is limited. Zinc does not have direct antibacterial properties but rather enhances the body’s immune response, making it a supportive rather than primary treatment.
Overall, zinc’s use for supporting the immune system during bacterial infections is grounded in scientific evidence, especially in deficiency states and for certain infections like childhood diarrhea. Its general use as an adjunctive therapy for bacterial infections is reasonably well supported, but it should not replace standard antimicrobial treatments.
Other ingredients used for Infection (bacterial)
15,16-Dihydrotanshinone I2'-Fucosyllactose
3-Phenyllactic Acid
Abies spectabilis
Abrus
Abuta
Acacia
Acemannan
Achyranthes
Agarikon Mushroom
Agastache
Agave
Ajoene
Alantolactone
Alchornea
Alcohol
Allicin
Alliin
Allium tuberosum
Allspice
Allyl isothiocyanate
Allyl sulfide
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
Alstonia scholaris
Amor seco
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
annatto
apple cider vinegar
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
aucubin
avens
babchi
Baccharis dracunculifolia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bacillus
bacillus clausii
Bacillus licheniformis
bacillus subtilis
Backhousia citriodora
bacteria
Baphicacanthus cusia
barberry
Basidiomycota
Bassia scoparia
Bauhinia
bayberry
bearberry
bee propolis
Belamcanda
bentonite
benzyl isothiocyanate
berberine
Berberis (unspecified)
Bergenia
beta-glucan
betel
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
black cumin
black nightshade
black pepper
black walnut
blackboard tree
Blepharis
Brazilian peppertree
Brevibacillus brevis
burdock
Caesalpinia crista
cajuput
calamus
Campsiandra angustifolia
caprylic acid
carvacrol
cassia bark
cat's claw
Ceanothus integerrimus
celandine
Celosia
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Chiococca alba
chirata
cinquefoil
Cistus
Clerodendrum trichotomum
cocklebur
coconut oil
Coin-leaf desmodium
Combretum quadrangulare
copaiba oil
Coptis chinensis
coriolus mushroom
cosmos
curcumin
cuspidatum root
Cymbidium goeringii
Cynodon dactylon
dehydroabietic acid
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
dialyzable leukocyte extract
Dichrostachys glomerata
divi-divi
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
elemi
elephant\'s head
Embelia
eucalyptus
eugenol
Euphorbia
fang-feng
Ficus religiosa
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fomes fomentarius
fucoidan
galangin
Gallesia
geraniol
geranium
ginger
Globulins
glyceryl caprylate caprate
glyceryl monolaurate
golden shower tree
goldenseal
Graviola
Guazuma ulmifolia
heartwood
Horsemint
Houttuynia
Humic acid
Hydrocolloid
Hygrophila
immunoglobin G
Immunoglobulin G
Indian coraltree
iodine
Isoalantolactone
isothiocyanates
Kachnar
Kefiran
Kigelia africana
knotgrass
Kochia
L. lactis
Labdanum
lactic acid
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus crispatus
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactobacillus lactis
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactococcus casei
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactoferrin
Lactoperoxidase
Lantana camara
Lapachol
lauric acid
Lauric arginate
Leptadenia
Leptospermum scoparium
lichen
licorice root
lime
liverwort
Lophira lanceolata
Lysimachia
lysozyme
Macaranga indica
Mahonia
Malva sylvestris
mangostanol
mangosteen
mangostin
mannose
manzanita
Marsh Tea
Matapalo Tree
Methenamine
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Microtea debilis
Milkweed
Mondo grass
Monolaurin
Moringa
Mountain horopito
Myrobalan
Myrrh
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Naphthoquinones
Nasturtium
Nisin
Oldenlandia diffusa
oriental arborvitae
Orris
Osha
Paenibacillus polymyxa
Pareira
pau d'arco
Pediococcus acidilactici
Pentatropis capensis
Pepper Bark Tree
Peroxidase
Phellodendron
phlorotannins
Phragmites
Piper retrofractum
pistacia integerrima gall
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Plumbago zeylanica
Premna
probiotics
purified silver
purple Tephrosia
Quebracho
Quisqualis
red root
Rosa laevigata
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
Saccharomyces boulardii
Sanguisorba
Sarcandra glabra
sarsaparilla
Savory
schizonepeta
sea salt
Self-Heal
Sesquiterpenic Acid
shiitake mushroom
Shikonin
Simaruba
Siphoviridae
Smoketree
Spanish Needle
Spilanthes
Stemona
Storax
Streptococcus salivarius
streptococcus thermophilus
Streptomyces
Streptomyces cellulosae
Streptomyces fradiae
Streptomyces griseoflavus
Sulfated polysaccharide
Swertia
Sword Bean
Tannins
Teri Pod
Terpinen-4-ol
Thiosulfinate
Thuja
Thymol
Trametes
turmeric
Umckalin
Umckaloabo
Verbascoside
vitamin C
vitamin D
Waltheria ovata
Wasabi
White oak
Xanthorrhizol
Yellow root
Zinc
Zingerone
Other health conditions supported by Zinc
AbrasionsAcne
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Anemia
Anorexia
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Appetite (deficient)
Arthritis
Athlete's Foot
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Birth Defects (prevention)
Bites and Stings
Blisters
Body Building
Body Odor
Boils
Broken Bones
Bruises (healing)
Bulimia
Burns and Scalds
Calcium Deficiency
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Cardiovascular Disease
Cartilage Damage
Cataracts
Celiac Disease
Cervical Dysplasia
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Cholera
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colitis
Concentration (poor)
Congestion
Congestive Heart Failure
Conjunctivitis
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Copper Toxicity
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Cradle Cap
Cramps (menstrual)
Crohn's Disease
Cuts
Cystic Fibrosis
Dandruff
Debility
Dehydration
Depression
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diaper Rash
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Duodenal Ulcers
Dysentery
Eczema
Endometriosis
Energy (lack of)
Enteritis
Epstein Barr Virus
Erectile Dysfunction
Exercise
Eye Infections
Eye Problems
Eyes (red or itching)
Eyes (spots before)
Eyesight (poor)
Failure to Thrive
Fat Metabolism (poor)
Fatty Liver Disease
Fibrosis
Fingernails (weak or brittle)
Foot Odor
Free Radical Damage
Gastritis
Giardia
Gingivitis
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Halitosis
Hashimoto's Disease
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Hemochromatosis
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis
Herpes
Hypothyroid
Impetigo
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Insomnia
Irritability
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Itching
Itching (rectal)
Jock Itch
Labor and Delivery
Lead Poisoning
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leprosy
Lesions
Leucorrhea
Liver Detoxification
Lupus
Macular Degeneration
Mastitis
Measles
Memory and Brain Function
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Mental Illness
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mononucleosis
Mood Swings
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Night Blindness
Nursing
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Oral Surgery
Osteoporosis
Pancreatitis
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Pneumonia
Poison Ivy or Oak
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Premature Ejaculation
Progesterone (low)
Prostatitis
Protein Digestion (poor)
Psoriasis
Puberty (hormone balancer)
Rashes and Hives
Rhinitis
Rosacea
Scars / Scar Tissue
Schizophrenia
Scratches and Abrasions
Seborrhea
Sex Drive (low)
Shingles
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sinus Infection
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin (infections)
Skin (oily)
Skin Care (general)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Smell (loss of)
Sore or Geographic Tongue
Sore Throat
Stress
Stye
Sugar Cravings
Sunburn
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Syphilis
Teeth (loose)
Testosterone (low)
Thinking (cloudy)
Tickle in Throat
Tonsillitis
Tooth Decay
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Tuberculosis
Ulcerations (external)
Ulcers
Vitiligo
Warts
Wasting
Worry
Wounds and Sores
Products containing Zinc
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free Original Formula)
Nature's Sunshine 5-HTP Power
Nature's Sunshine Adrenal Support
Nature's Sunshine AnxiousLess
Nature's Sunshine AnxiousLess
Nature's Sunshine Bowel Detox
Nature's Sunshine Calcium-Magnesium (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine Candida Clear
Nature's Sunshine Cellular Energy
Nature's Sunshine Children's Elderberry Immune
Nature's Sunshine Children's MultiVitamin & Mineral
Nature's Sunshine Defense Maintenance
Nature's Sunshine Dieter's Cleanse
Nature's Sunshine Glandular System
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free) NEW!
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas
Nature's Sunshine Master Gland Formula®
Nature's Sunshine Mega-Chel
Nature's Sunshine Men's Formula (With Lycopene)
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (Time Release)
Nature's Sunshine Natural Changes
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Prenatal
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Harvest
Nature's Sunshine Perfect Eyes
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens Pouch
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens To-Go
Nature's Sunshine Power Meal Chocolate
Nature's Sunshine Power Meal Vanilla
Nature's Sunshine Skeletal Strength
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Twenty-Four
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Immune
Nature's Sunshine Structural System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental (Without Iron)
Nature's Sunshine Super Trio
Nature's Sunshine Target TS-II Formula
Nature's Sunshine Thyroid Support
Nature's Sunshine Ultrabiome DTX
Nature's Sunshine VitaWave
Nature's Sunshine Yeast/Fungal Detox
Nature's Sunshine Zinc
Nature's Sunshine Zinc Lozenge
