Zinc Supplements Lower Weight And Triglycerides In Obese Men And Women

Zinc supplements lower weight and triglycerides in obese men and women

Friday, December 20, 2013. An article published this year in Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin reports the findings of a randomized, double-blinded trial which revealed a weight loss and triglyceride-lowering benefit for zinc supplementation among obese men and women.

Sixty participants between the ages of 18 and 45 years were divided to receive 30 milligrams zinc gluconate or a placebo for one month. Weight, waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) were determined, and blood samples were analyzed for serum zinc, lipids and fasting glucose levels before and after the treatment period.

In their discussion of the findings, authors Laleh Payahoo and colleagues of Tabriz University of Medical Science in Iran remark that the dose of zinc used in the study was higher than the Institute of Medicine's Dietary Reference Intake level of 8 to 11 milligrams per day. Although no significant changes were observed in lipids and fasting blood glucose among those who received zinc in the current study, they note that higher doses and longer periods of zinc supplementation have been suggested as a therapy to lower triglycerides as well as total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Possible mechanisms for the results observed in the current research include a role for zinc in appetite suppression, a protective role for the mineral against an obesity-promoting mutation, and improvement of insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance.

"The results of this study indicated that one month supplementation of zinc gluconate (30 mg/day) in obese male and female adults resulted in a remarkable reduction in weight and BMI indices as well as an increase in serum zinc concentration," the authors write. "To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study in the region that investigated the effect of zinc supplementation on obese adults in both genders and it can be considered as the strength of the study."

"It can be suggested that increasing the period of intervention and determining the safety and effectiveness of doses of zinc supplementation be considered in future studies."

What's Hot

Highlight

"Healthy obesity" questioned

The results of a review and meta-analysis published on December 2, 2013 in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggest that so-called "healthy obesity," characterized by an obese body mass index (BMI) in the absence of adverse metabolic features such as disordered lipids, elevated blood glucose or hypertension, is not as healthy as was once believed.

Researchers from Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto selected twelve observational studies that included a total of 67,127 subjects for their review. Studies included those that evaluated all-cause mortality and/or cardiovascular events, BMI, and metabolic status as defined by the presence of metabolic syndrome components. While normal weight, overweight and obese subjects that were considered metabolically unhealthy had an elevated risk of mortality and/or cardiovascular events in comparison with metabolically healthy subjects over the course of the studies, those who were metabolically healthy but obese had a 24% greater risk of dying from all causes over ten years or more of follow-up compared to metabolically healthy normal-weight individuals.

"These data suggest a model in which excess weight is associated initially with the development of subclinical metabolic and vascular dysfunction that ultimately leads to an increased incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality over the long term," Caroline K. Kramer, MD, PhD, and her coauthors write. "In this regard, previous reports that evaluated metabolically healthy obese individuals over short-term follow-up or that compared these individuals to control groups not fully characterized for cardiovascular risk might have contributed to the concept of a 'benign obesity' phenotype that is not associated with adverse outcomes. Our results do not support this concept of 'benign obesity' and demonstrate that there is no 'healthy' pattern of obesity."

The authors of an editorial published in the same issue of the journal remark that physicians should focus on treating the obesity in the same manner as any other chronic disease that requires long term treatment.

Super Sale—Live Healthy for Less

Get in on our lowest prices of the year, including a host of new breakthrough formulations, during our 25th Annual Super Sale going on now. Below are just a few examples of the significant savings available during this year's Super Sale:

	Super Ubiquinol CoQ10 with Enhanced Mitochondrial Support™, 100 mg, 60 softgels Item #01426	$62.00 $37.80*
	Super Omega-3 EPA/DHA with Sesame Lignans & Olive Fruit Extract, 120 softgels Item #01482	$32.00 $18.90
	Life Extension Mix™ Capsules, 490 capsules Item #01854	$110.00 $66.15*
	Vitamin D3, 5000 IU, 60 softgels Item #01713	$11.00 $6.68*
	Cognitex® with Brain Shield™, 90 softgels Item #01896	$60.00 $35.10*
	Mitochondrial Energy Optimizer with BioPQQ®, 120 capsules Item #01768	$94.00 $56.70*

https://www.lifeextension.com/sales/supersale
*4-bottle, member price each

Winter Wellness™, 60 capsules
Item #01739

Every winter, human immune systems are overworked as they provide essential defense against seasonal challenges— especially the immune systems of the elderly and very young. A crucial part of this protection comes from the immune system's production of new antibodies when the new winter season's pathogens are first introduced, which boosts the body's preparedness for upcoming challenges during peak winter outbreaks.

In a remarkable discovery, the amino acids in Winter Wellness™ have been shown to work together to prime the immune system to optimize immune responsiveness. Taken daily, they support the host immune system's primary defenders by enhancing the function of key immune cells to generate antibodies and naturally prime readiness—especially when taken at least two weeks prior to the first pre-season exposure to the winter's new antigen challenges.

L-theanine is a distinctive amino acid found almost exclusively in tea leaves. L-cystine is an amino acid synthesized by the body from the cysteine molecules found in many plant and animal food sources. Scientists have found that L-theanine and L-cystine have potent, complementary effects on immune responsiveness.

Rich Rewards™ Cruciferous Vegetable Soup, 32 ounces
Item #01530

Life Extension's vegetable soups contain only healthy ingredients, extra-virgin olive oil, and a host of other beneficial plant foods.

These soups are packaged in a convenient resealable container that enables a precise amount of soup to pour into a bowl. The twist-top cap screws back on so the container can be placed into the refrigerator for the next serving. One reason these containers are used to hold these vegetable soups is that they are free of the Bisphenol-A found in commercial soup cans. The FDA says Bisphenol-A is safe, but Life Extension does not trust the FDA's judgment on this issue.

Each serving of Cruciferous Vegetable Soup contains only 60 calories and provides a full serving of the world's healthiest vegetables. The entire container supplies about 3.5 servings — with none of the cheap starch fillers found in commercial soups.

Life Extension Update		What's Hot
	Zinc supplementation reduces inflammation and oxidative stress		Inflammation lowers critical nutrients
	Multi-nutrient supplementation reduces body fat and lipids in obese women		Fiber intake associated with lipid and hormone improvement in postmenopausal women
	Alpha-lipoic acid reduces triglycerides in animal model of obesity/diabetes

Life Extension Magazine®		Health Topics
	Reduce stubbornly high triglycerides		Obesity and weight loss
	All about supplements: zinc		Atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease
	Lowering triglycerides and raising HDL naturally