Zinc Tests

Zinc depletion

Zinc is important for so many enzyme systems ranging from:

• liver function,
• DNA synthesis,
• serotonin production,
• sex hormone production,
• insulin production,
• the stabilisation of the histamine response,
• immune cell production and those that prevent free radical overload in your body.

Zinc is required for the production of tummy acid (hydrochloric acid) that is essential to break down your food and extract all the goodness from it. Thus zinc depletion is the cornerstone of many nutritional deficiencies.

Zinc deficiency symptoms

People suffering from zinc deficiency can experience:

• vision loss
• hearing loss
• depleted immune system leading to infections
• stunted growth
• hair, appetite and weight loss
• skin dryness
• anaemia

How does the zinc test work?

You must not eat, drink, or smoke less than one hour before the test. In the practice, the equivalent of a liqueur glass of the test fluid will be given to rinse your mouth with for 5-10 seconds, after which you can either swallow or spit it out.

Four different flavours now may appear:

1. No flavour or 'like water' - typical zinc deficiency
2. No flavour to begin with, but later a reaction occurs described as either 'dry', 'fluffy','mineral', 'like baking powder' or 'sweet' - zinc deficiency
3. A strong, but not necessarily unpleasant, the flavour is registered immediately and builds up little by little - no zinc deficiency.
4. An unpleasant flavour is registered immediately. The test person makes a wry face and wants to rinse his mouth with water - no zinc deficiency, good zinc status.