Zinc (Yashada) and Ayurveda

Zinc (Zn) (metal) is an important micronutrient present in all human body tissues. On account of its physicochemical properties (redox-inertness, flexible and dynamic coordination geometry), it plays catalytic, structural and regulatory roles [1] as follows: 

1. Metabolism: 
a. Carbohydrate/glucose metabolism: Zn is involved in synthesis, storage and secretion of insulin. It improves insulin action by enhancing insuling stability, reduced degradation, enhanced receptor binding)[2]. Zn also demonstrates insulin mimetic actions.
b. Protein digestion [2].
c. Bone metabolism [2].
d. Lipid metabolism [8]. 

2. Growth and development (during pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence)[2].
3. DNA, RNA and protein synthesis: Zinc is a cofactor in their synthesis. It also influences gene expression through transcription factors [2,3].
4. Cell division, cell growth, cell differentiation [2].
5. Immune system: essential for normal functioning of macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and complement activity [2,8].
6. Wound healing: blood clotting [2].
7. Reproduction [2].
8. Sensory system: essential for visual, olfactory and gustatory senses [2]. 


Human body cannot synthesize Zinc. Hence, it is dependent on external food sources to maintain adequate levels. There is no specialized storage system for Zinc in the body. Hence, it cannot be stored in significant quantity in the body. Thus regular intake or supplementation is needed. 

Recommended daily intake of zinc [8]:
Children: 3 mg
Adult females: 8 mg
Adult males: 11 mg.
Pregnant and lactating women have a higher requirement. 

Dietary sources of Zinc 
a. Animal: Meat, fish, oysters, shellfish 
b. Plants: wholegrains, nuts, beans (zinc assimilation in such plants depends on the zinc content of the soil where these crops are reared). 

Causes of Zn deficiency: 
1. Acquired. 
a. Insufficient intake.
b. High metabolic rate (increased requirement).
c. Malabsorption.
d. Excessive loss.
e. Impaired utilisation.

2. Inherited 

Acquired zinc deficiency usually occurs due to a combination of various factors like: 
1. Nutritional: lack of meat intake, excessive phytates (legumes, seeds, soy products, whole grains) or oxalates (spinach, okra, nuts, tea). 
2. Chronic illnesses (GIT, Liver, Renal diseases, sickle cell diseases). Vegetarians and vegans may be at a higher risk of zinc deficiency as their diets (rich in inhibitors like phytic acid, calcium and polyphenols) are lower in bioavailable zinc [1, 6,7]. 


Deficiency of Zinc: 
1. Zinc deficiency coexists with Diabetes [2,4]. Causal relationship between both is debatable [2]. Zinc supplementation leads to significant reduction in FBG, PPBG and HbA1c in patients with type-2 diabetes who received Zn supplementation as compared with controls [5]. 

2. Children: increases risk of other childhood morbidities, cognitive impairment, growth impairment, recurrent infections, diarrhea, and delayed wound healing [8,9]. 

3. Adolescents and adults: sexual dysfunction, impairs reproduction, inflammation, gastrointestinal symptoms, cutaneous involvement, increased risk of cardiometabolic disorders [8,9].

Yashada bhasma.
1. Herbo-mineral ayurvedic preparation. It is made up of zinc oxide (nano to micron sized particles) [2]. Safe when used appropriately under proper medical supervision (precise dose and limited period of time). Excessive dosage or misuse may lead to side effects. Self medication may prove dangerous. 

2. Rasa: Katu (pungent), Kashaya (astringent)
3. Virya: Sheeta.
4. Dosha: balances Kapha and Pitta 

5.  Uses:
1. Zinc deficiency. 
2. Slow healing or non-healing wounds, ulcers. 
3. Diabetes. 
4. Anemia. 
5. Boosts Immune system. 
6. Useful in recurrent Common cold, Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma. Also prevents respiratory infections. 7. Ear infections.
8. Eye disorders.
9. Parasitic diseases like Malaria.
10. Hairfall, baldness, skin diseases, skin allergy.
11. Menorrhagia.
12. Depression.
13. Tremors.
14. Epilepsy.
15. Grahani. 

6. Dose: 125 mg once/twice a day. 
7. Anupan: madhu (honey) or trikatu kashaya or guduchi kwath. 


References:
1. Gupta S, Brazier AKM, Lowe NM. Zinc deficiency in low- and middle-income countries: prevalence and approaches for mitigation. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2020 Oct;33(5):624-643. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12791. Epub 2020 Jul 6. PMID: 32627912. 
2. Umrani RD, Paknikar KM. Jasada bhasma, a Zinc-Based Ayurvedic Preparation: Contemporary Evidence of Antidiabetic Activity Inspires Development of a Nanomedicine. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:193156. doi: 10.1155/2015/193156. Epub 2015 Mar 18. PMID: 25866533; PMCID: PMC4381720. 
3. MacDonald R. S. The role of zinc in growth and cell proliferation. Journal of Nutrition. 2000;130(5):1500S–1508S. doi: 10.1093/jn/130.5.1500S.
4. Chausmer A. B. Zinc, insulin, and diabetes. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 1998;17(2):109–115. doi: 10.1080/07315724.1998.10718735.
5. Jayawardena R., et al. “Effects of zinc supplementation on diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis”. Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome 4.1 (2012): 13.
6. Klein L, Dawczynski C, Schwarz M, Maares M, Kipp K, Haase H, Kipp AP. Selenium, Zinc, and Copper Status of Vegetarians and Vegans in Comparison to Omnivores in the Nutritional Evaluation (NuEva) Study. Nutrients. 2023 Aug 11;15(16):3538. doi: 10.3390/nu15163538. PMID: 37630729; PMCID: PMC10459941.
7. Foster M, Chu A, Petocz P, Samman S. Effect of vegetarian diets on zinc status: a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies in humans. J Sci Food Agric. 2013 Aug 15;93(10):2362-71. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6179. Epub 2013 May 29. PMID: 23595983.
8. Maxfield L, Shukla S, Crane JS. Zinc Deficiency. 2023 Jun 28. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 29630283.
9. Lowe NM, Hall AG, Broadley MR, Foley J, Boy E, Bhutta ZA. Preventing and Controlling Zinc Deficiency Across the Life Course: A Call to Action. Adv Nutr. 2024 Mar;15(3):100181. doi: 10.1016/j.advnut.2024.100181. Epub 2024 Jan 26. PMID: 38280724; PMCID: PMC10882121.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Daily regimen (Dincharya): cleansing the teeth and oral cavity (Dant dhavan)

Ayurveda scriptures advise the use of different types of fresh herbal twigs to clean the teeth and oral cavity and strengthen the gums. Their use has numerous benefits. Yet, many individuals may not find their use feasible due to the lack of availability of fresh herbal twigs.  In such cases, herbal tooth powders (now widely available in the market), are a good alternative.  Here are some tips on using them: 1. Evaluate your general health and state of digestion [Important: Consult your physician]. Accordingly, choose the type of herbal powder (mild/moderately strong depending on the nature of the herbal ingredients) that would suit your current state of physical health. 2. Use herbal tooth powders twice daily - after waking up from sleep and before going to bed. 3. First, take a small quantity of herbal powder on your index finger and then massage the gums gently. Next, gently rub the herbal powder on the tongue, the roof of the oral cavity (soft and hard palate), and the pa...
Read more

The loop

Constellation of narratives competing for attention,  Baiting the mind, Persistent bombardment, inadvertently and eventually one falls in the trap, Coordinated, Stepwise involvement, Confusing, deluding, blinding the mind,   Depleting energy reserves, Attempting to break morale, Mandating a response and corresponding action. And so the journey to nowhere begins. A never ending cycle of pain, and trauma. Disregarding the souls gaze, Prioritising a particular conditional perspective, Unaware of the conflicts that it breeds, Counterintuitive and counter productive, Perpetuating with utter disregard of Unintended consequences. Denied respite persistently, Stuck, stagnant and demoralised, The mind is cornered. Eventually the soul realises the mind loop, It longs to break free, Unable to learn, live and love to the fullest, Subscribes to new misbeliefs, Accepts a limited existence. Living aimlessly, Nursing a hope deep within, Looking forward to a day, When it would break the s...
Read more

Holistic healing pathways

Self awareness, holistic understanding, acceptance, ability to self regulate, maturity, experience, wellness status (physical, psychological) are key personal factors that determine how one responds to a conflicting event. Deficiency in one or more of these factors forms a fertile ground that influences ones ability to face the outcome of an event. Inability to accept an outcome or preference for a particular favorable outcome implies significant involvement or oneness in the event/its outcome thus triggering a conflict.    a. Soul that is not deficient in the factors listed earlier: Such a soul sees through the event (~play), realizes the circumstance, in full acceptance and choice-less mode maturely responds to it. It does not have any agenda and preference. The flow of event continues and soul continues on its journey unperturbed.  b. Soul that is deficient in the factors listed earlier: If the conflict is not intense enough, it may not activate corresponding reso...
Read more