Zinc News and Research

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Zinc is an essential mineral that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. Zinc is also found in many cold lozenges and some over-the-counter drugs sold as cold remedies.

Long-term omeprazole use linked to mineral imbalance risks

A study conducted in Brazil by researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) and the ABC Medical School (FMABC) warns that the prolonged use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can impair nutrient absorption.

9 Feb 2026

Repeated exposure to aged vape plumes could negatively impact lung health

Electronic cigarettes - or vapes - can release puffs of vapor in aromatic clouds. The health risks of breathing in this secondhand or passive vapor aren't fully understood.

30 Jan 2026

Turning everyday eggs into powerful nutrient delivery systems

Eggs as functional foods: this review explores enrichment techniques that enhance nutrient bioavailability and support health through precision nutrition.

30 Jan 2026

Air pollution, not diet, shows the strongest link to poorer concentration in schoolgirls

This cross-sectional study of 300 school-aged girls in Tehran found that higher air pollution exposure was consistently associated with poorer concentration, while dietary antioxidant capacity showed weaker, model-dependent links to attention. No significant associations or interactions were observed for short-term memory, highlighting pollution exposure as the dominant factor influencing attentional performance.

28 Jan 2026

Ultra-thin nanotechnology enables safe wireless stimulation for retinal degeneration

An international research team led by Prof. Dr. Sedat Nizamoğlu from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Koç University has developed a next-generation, safe, and wireless stimulation technology for retinal degenerative diseases that cause vision loss.

23 Jan 2026

Peptide-based platform marks a major step toward needle-free diabetes care

For more than a century, oral insulin has been considered a "dream" therapy for diabetes, hindered by enzymatic degradation in the digestive tract and the absence of a dedicated intestinal transport mechanism. Consequently, many patients must rely on daily insulin injections, which can significantly reduce their quality of life.

23 Jan 2026

Can dietary supplements support nutrition security as climate change disrupts food systems?

Environmental change is reshaping food availability, nutrient quality, and health risks, exposing major gaps in how nutrition science addresses climate-related stressors. This perspective argues that dietary supplements may have a context-dependent role but require rigorous, interdisciplinary research before informing public health action.

19 Jan 2026

Vegetarian women show subtle changes in cellular health markers

Slovak university women on vegetarian diets exhibit small bioelectrical impedance variations, suggesting potential insights into body composition and health.

13 Jan 2026

A pill that confirms you actually swallowed your medicine

SAFARI capsule technology offers a novel solution for medication adherence, using a dissolvable Faraday cage to verify ingestion without batteries or waste.

12 Jan 2026

Biodegradable pill improves medication adherence monitoring

In an advance that could help ensure people are taking their medication on schedule, MIT engineers have designed a pill that can report when it has been swallowed.

8 Jan 2026

Understanding how the immune system protects against fungal pathogenicity

The yeast Candida albicans colonizes mucosal surfaces and is usually harmless. However, under certain conditions it can cause dangerous infections.

15 Dec 2025

Unnecessary gluten-free diets may put children at risk

Understanding gluten-related disorders is crucial for pediatric nutrition, as gluten-free diets can pose health risks without appropriate medical supervision.

15 Dec 2025

Plant-based diets support healthy growth when properly planned for children

Vegetarian and vegan diets can support healthy growth when carefully planned with appropriate supplementation, finds a major new meta-analysis – the most comprehensive study to-date of plant-based diets in children.

12 Dec 2025

Bacterial enzyme linked to heart complications in pneumonia

Pneumonia is a disease that burdens the healthcare system with more that 1.2 million emergency room visits each year and more than 41,000 adult deaths in the United States.

4 Dec 2025

Insect flour could boost gut health and cut environmental impact

Chitin-rich insect flours show promise as functional foods, boosting beneficial gut bacteria while addressing allergenicity and consumer trust issues.

3 Dec 2025

Cocktail of three supplements improves social behaviors in autistic mice

Researchers led by Tzyy-Nan Huang and Ming-Hui Lin from Academia Sinica in Taiwan report that a low-dose mixture of zinc, serine, and branch-chain amino acids can alleviate behavioral deficits in three different mouse models of autism.

2 Dec 2025

Why potatoes and grains can’t replace each other in a healthy diet

White potatoes are nutrient-rich, offering potassium and vitamins. Replacing grains with them may reduce essential nutrients like iron and folate.

1 Dec 2025

Black cumin: A promising natural agent with potential against chronic diseases

Black cumin seeds contain diverse secondary metabolites, including thymoquinone, flavonoids, triterpenoids and alkaloids, that demonstrate broad antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity. Early preclinical and limited clinical evidence shows therapeutic potential across chronic diseases, supported by mechanistic and structure activity relationship findings.

24 Nov 2025

Kennedy sharpens vaccine attacks, without scientific backing

As the federal government prepares for the next meeting of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has intensified his attacks on aluminum vaccine components used in many shots to boost the body's immune response.

24 Nov 2025

Innovative new tool helps understand how gut microbes interact to influence health

The gut microbiome is made up of trillions of microbes that play a vital role in keeping us healthy.  A disturbance in the balance of these microbes can contribute to a variety of health conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

20 Nov 2025