Opti L-Zinc with 300mcg Copper NOW 100 caps. £7.95

L-OptiZinc® is a patented form of zinc complexed with the amino acid methionine in order to be better absorbed and retained longer, compared to several other forms of zinc tested. As Zinc reduces the body’s ability to utilize the essential mineral, copper, 300 mcg of copper has been added. Zinc is a trace mineral, critical for optimum immune system function and vital in helping cells of the immune system multiply. Arthritis & Zinc: Zinc has anti-inflammatory properties, probably due to its antioxidant activity in the enzyme superoxide dismutase. In a double blind study, patients taking 220 mg of zinc sulfate three times daily gained improvement in joint swelling, morning stiffness, walking time and the patient's own impression of overall disease activity Common cold & Zinc: Zinc gluconate lozenges substantially reduce the symptoms (coughing, headache, hoarseness, congestion, nasal draining and sore throat) and the duration of the common cold. Gastro-Intestinal Health & Zinc: Zinc sulfate (220 mg three times per day) decreased pain and reduced the size of gastric ulcers much faster than placebo controls Patients with inflammatory bowel disease improve rapidly with zinc supplementation ranging from 210 mg/d to 750 mg/d of zinc sulfate. Mens Health & Zinc: Zinc supplementation is especially important for men's health: Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH): Zinc reduces the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) thereby decreasing hyperplastic growth in the prostate gland. enhances male potency and sex drive promotes male fertility Interestingly, reasearch shows that men lose approximately 5mg of zinc per ejaculation! Osteoporosis & Zinc: Zinc enhances vitamin D activity and is essential for bone formation. Women with higher zinc intakes have greater forearm bone mineral content. Skin Health & Zinc: Numerous studies report low zinc levels in individuals with acne, and oral zinc supplementation helps a substantial number of these patients. Individuals with eczema and psoriasis are frequently found to have low zinc levels. Zinc supplementation also speeds wound healing and topical applications speeds the healing of open wounds. Visual Health & Zinc: Two zinc-dependent enzymes are required for vision; AMD patients taking 80 mg/d of zinc for two years had much less vision loss than controls. Zinc aids in the prevention of cataract formation and optic neuritis (inflamed optic nerve). In addition, it activates vitamin A to improve night vision