A grandmother in Oregon takes a bottle of tablets from the cabinet. "I know Im supposed to take my zinc," she tells her husband, "but I cant remember why." "For your memory," her husband chuckles. Like thousands of others who are middle-aged-and-counting, this couple has been taking zinc whenever they think of it, depending on it to help keep the synapses firing and the dendrites awake. James Penland, Ph.D., research psychologist at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, N.D., calls zinc and iron "The Memory Minerals," but a slew of findings recently reported suggest that the mineral provides a raft of other benefits as well. From gestation through old age, zinc offers so many benefits that it can rightly be called a nutritional heavy hitter indeed. Here are some of the findings: BEFORE BIRTH A pair of studies reported in 1998 underscore that the developing fetus derives benefits when the mother takes zinc supplements during pregnancy. Improved infant immune system: Infants whose mothers took a 15 mg. daily zinc supplement during pregnancy showed a 25% increase in antibody levels at birth and were still healthier at age 6 months, compared to mothers who did not supplement. Children whose mothers took supplements had fewer infections, "not as many fever episodes, and not as many symptoms of irritated intestinal tract," said Johns Hopkins researcher Dr. Anuraj Shankar. Increased birth weight: Low-birthweight babies have greater risk of health and developmental problems throughout childhood. In controlled clinical tests of 589 expectant mothers from 13 to 44 years, researchers at the University of Alabama-Birmingham found one simple, inexpensive solution. "A daily oral dose of 25 mg of zinc resulted in a significantly larger birth weight, increases in head circumference, arm and femur lengths, and skinfold thickness," writes head researcher Robert L. Godenberg, M.D. in his report in The Journal of the American Medical Association. CHILDHOOD Reduction of infectious diseases: Supplementary zinc in childrens diets may reduce incidences of (and deaths due to) pneumonia and respiratory diseases (reduced by up to 45 percent in zinc-supplemented children compared to children not given zinc), diarrhea (decreased by up to 38 percent), and malaria (down 35 percent), report studies published in the August American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Brighter children: The Z-element facilitates proper neurological development in infants and children, reports the August supplement of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Deficiencies may contribute to shortened attention span, hyperactivity, diminished cognitive function and general "learning difficulties." In clinical tests, children given supplemental doses of zinc showed improved performance in all of the above areas. Some researchers believe that the neural system uses zinc in the construction of brain circuitry; therefore, optimum levels are necessary in the fetal stage and early childhood. ADULTHOOD Cold comfort - for adults only: A study reported in August confirmed the effectiveness of zinc in combatting the common cold. Specifically, lozenges containing zinc soften the symptoms and facilitate a speedier recovery. But only for adults. Testing 249 first-through-twelfth graders in two school districts, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic found that "zinc lozenges may not work for children and adolescents." Half the cold-suffering students took zinc lozenges five or six times a day for three weeks, half got plain-old cherry-flavored hard candy. The two groups showed no significant difference in how long it took the cold symptoms to ease. Take note: Zinc lozenges "soften the symptoms" - they dont cure. Bacteria blaster: Adding zinc (or aloe or grapefruit extract) to mouthwashes, rinses, and toothpaste can destroy viruses in the mouth. Toothpastes and mouth rinses may kill bacteria and ameliorate bad breath, but they are harmless against viruses. Researcher Milton Schiffenbauer, Pace University, New York City campus, said his finding has "significant impact on oral hygiene care and its emerging role in chronic systemic diseases (because) many viruses ... enter through the mouth." Zinc for zits: According to Preventions Food and Nutrition, no fewer than six studies relate acne and zinc. Subjects with the most acne had the lowest levels of zinc. Supplemental zinc intakes lessened the frequency and severity of breakouts. Hair health: Lush locks come not from what you put on your head, but what you put in your body. Research by Dr. Allan L. Kayne of the University of Washington Medical School and Virginia Mason Clinic in Seattle found that sometimes, hair loss is attributable to zinc deficiency. In one of his studies, hair loss was reversed when zinc-deficient subjects took therapeutic doses. PMS complaints: Baylor College of Medicine in Houston found that women experiencing PMS during mid-cycle had "significantly lower levels of zinc." The researchers hypothesize that the deficiency could lead to a decrease in secretions of progesterone and endorphines, hormones which act as natural painkillers. While the researchers emphasized that their findings are only preliminary at this point, they note that "studies continue to confirm zincs importance to the regulation of hormones."

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