"Zinc The Most Importamt Trace Mineral" Are you Getting Enough?

 Zinc is arguably the most important trace mineral, and while its importance as an essential nutrient has been recognised for many years, only recently have we understood the full impact of this nutrient on health. To date, researchers have found more than 200 zinc-dependent enzymes in all the major biochemical pathways in the human body, which is more than all the other mineral-dependent enzymes combined.

Zinc Tally Testing

Zinc Tally was developed by Dr BryceSmith of London for the treatment of anorexia, because all other forms of zinccould not be absorbed. This was due to a defect in the mucosal absorption mechanisms, which are dependent on zinc. This was a ‘catch 22’ situation known as the “zinc blockade”, where zinc (and other elements) could not be absorbed due to the underlying mucosal zinc deficiency. Dr Smith found that liquid zinc was the only form
of zinc able to bypass this intestina blockade. Liquid zinc is now recognised as a reliable way to replenish zinc and assess zinc status by virtue of the taste response. (Source Metagenics)

Each 10 ml contains:
Zinc sulphate hydrated (as heptahydrate) 59 mg equiv. to elemental zinc 13.5 mg (in a base of distilled water)

HOW DO WE KNOW ZINC IS NEEDED? USE ZINC TALLY

Zinc is intimately associated with the taste function in humans, and it has been shown that taste perception can be used as a measurement of zinc status. Researchers led by Dr Derrick Bryce-Smith at Reading University in England discovered that a specially prepared solution of zinc sulfate, when taken orally, may be used to determine zinc status. This Zinc Taste Test is based on the activity of a zinc-dependent enzyme (gustin) in the saliva. In their studies (published in the Lancet in 1985) Bryce-Smith and his colleagues found that upon administration of 10 ml of the oral zinc sulfate solution, a lack of taste or a delayed taste perception indicated a zinc deficiency state. An immediate taste perception of the solution suggested that the person was adequately nourished with zinc. Use Zinc Tally to identify the functional zinc status of your patients quickly and easily in your clinic.2,3

Evaluation

Responses to tasting 10 ml of the solution are:

Category 1 No specific taste or other sensation is noticed, even after the solution has been kept in the mouth for about ten seconds.

Category 2 No immediate taste is noted, but after a few seconds a slight taste variously described as dry-mineral, furry, or sweet develops.

Category 3 A definite, though not strongly unpleasant taste is noted almost immediately and tends to intensify with time.

Category 4 A strong and unpleasant taste is noted immediately.

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