Zinc good for healthy immune function, destroying viruses, bacteria

Zinc not only supports healthy immune function, but increases activation of T cells responsible for destroying viruses and bacteria.

According to the study in Journal of Leukocyte Biology, scientists found that T cells taken from a zinc-supplemented group had higher activation than those from the placebo group.

"As the debate over zinc supplementation in healthy individuals continues," said John Wherry, Ph.D., deputy editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, "studies like this help shed light on how zinc may enhance the ability of our immune systems to fight off foreign invaders.