Can zinc supplementation help you grow taller?

Everyone wants to have a golden ratio height, which not only makes people look beautiful, but also makes them more confident psychologically. The human body basically stops growing taller during puberty, and friends with unsatisfactory heights become troubled at this time. In addition to genetics, many people believe that short stature is caused by zinc deficiency. So, can zinc supplementation help you grow taller? Let’s take a look at it next.

1. Can zinc supplementation help you grow taller?

Zinc supplementation does not help in increasing height. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation is necessary because these two elements are essential for growth.

2. Zinc Supplementation

1. Promote human growth and development

If children and adolescents in the growth and development period are deficient in zinc, it will lead to developmental abnormalities and imbalance of intestinal flora. Severe deficiency will lead to dwarfism and intellectual disability.

2. Maintain normal appetite

Zinc deficiency can lead to decreased sense of taste, anorexia, picky eating, even pica, and imbalance of intestinal flora.

3. Enhance human immunity

Zinc is a nutrient for the development of the immune organ thymus. Only sufficient zinc can effectively ensure the development of the thymus, normal differentiation of T lymphocytes and promotion of cellular immune function.

4. Promote the healing of wounds and trauma

Zinc supplements were first used clinically to treat skin diseases.

5. Affects the metabolism of vitamin A and normal vision

Zinc is clinically shown to be beneficial to the eyes because it promotes the absorption of vitamin A. Zinc is essential for the absorption of vitamin A. Vitamin A is usually stored in the liver. When the human body needs it, it is transported into the blood. This process is "mobilized" by zinc.

6. Maintain normal spermatogenesis in men

Zinc is present in large quantities in male testicles and is involved in the entire process of sperm production, maturation and capacitation. Once men are zinc deficient, it will lead to a decrease in sperm count, decreased sperm motility, poor semen liquefaction, and ultimately male infertility. Zinc deficiency can also cause adolescents to have no secondary sexual characteristics and fail to develop normal reproductive development.

3. Causes of zinc deficiency

1. High zinc requirements but insufficient intake

Infants, children and adolescents grow and develop rapidly and have a high demand for zinc nutrition, but often their diet is not reasonable, resulting in insufficient zinc intake.

2. Mainly eat plant-based foods and not enough animal-based foods

Zinc is mainly found in animal foods. Most Chinese families eat plant foods, and the oxalic acid, phytic acid, cellulose, etc. in plant foods seriously interfere with the absorption of zinc.

3. Frequent consumption of refined processed foods leads to excessive zinc loss and poor absorption

Zinc is absorbed in the small intestine after ingestion. Infants and young children are most susceptible to diarrhea. Diarrhea causes reduced absorption of zinc in the intestine, so children who often suffer from diarrhea are prone to zinc deficiency. Children who have undergone small bowel resection due to intussusception or other reasons are more likely to be zinc deficient. Cereals contain phytates and high amounts of fiber, which can hinder zinc absorption. Children who are fed with cow's milk are more zinc deficient than those who are breastfed because the zinc in cow's milk is not as easily absorbed as that in breast milk. Children who are zinc deficient can supplement their zinc by eating more zinc-containing foods. In daily life, they should eat more zinc-containing foods such as oysters, squid, eggs, lean meat, etc.