Zinc for mental wellness

Dr. Claude Pfeiffer was a biopsychiatrist years ahead of the rest of the world. In the 1960s, he discovered that nutritional deficiencies are the cause of serious psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and clinical depression.

The most important element in keeping your brain normal
Zinc is one of the most important metals (iron is the other one) associated with normal brain function. Most of the your brain's zinc is in the hippocampus, which is associated with memory processes. Part of your retina, considered an extension of the brain, has large amounts of zinc. Whenever you think, remember things or use your eyes, your body is using parts that require sufficient amounts of zinc to function properly. Dr. Pfeiffer used zinc supplements in conjunction with other trace minerals to successfully treat schizophrenics and help them eliminate use of psychotropic drugs.

Other metals essential to brain function can't be fully used by your body unless zinc is present in sufficient quantities. In a rodent study, researchers found that potassium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, copper and manganese were not properly distributed or utilized for normal brain function if there was a zinc deficiency.

Can criminal behavior be eliminated with zinc supplements?
Turkish doctors at the Department of Forensic Medicine at Firat University Faculty of Medicine studied zinc and copper blood levels of 88 subjects who suffered from schizophrenia. Half the subjects were criminals. Schizophrenic criminals had a much lower level of plasma zinc and much higher level of copper than non-criminal schizophrenics. While there are certainly non-dietary reasons people commit crimes, it appears that deficiencies of trace minerals such as zinc may result in criminal behavior.

Supplementing with zinc
If someone you know suffers from schizophrenia or other mental disorders, they should have their zinc blood levels measured. Taking prescription drugs or being locked up in a mental facility for decades is hardly a solution to a serious mental problem. People do not become schizophrenic because they have a shortage of Fluanxol, Piportil L4, Haldol LA or Stelazine.

Zinc is important for everyone, not just those suffering from mental disorders. However, if you're inclined to try zinc supplementation and have a mental disorder, find a healthcare provider who can look at the big picture and not just his prescription pad.

Because zinc impacts other metals, you need to keep it in balance. The proper zinc/copper ratio is 10:1, and many zinc supplements come that way. Taking zinc for mental disorders requires higher dosages, which can result in a copper deficiency, and must have medical oversight to be sure other essential metals aren't depleted.

Think zinc!



Additional resources:
Biol Psychiatry. 1982 Apr;17(4):513-32
J Nutr. 1983 Oct;113(10):1895-905
Arch Androl. 2003 Sep-Oct;49(5):365-8

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I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
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"Let food be thy medicine and
medicine be thy food" - Hippocrates