Perhaps the most widely utilized of the "trace" minerals. There is no established nutritional minimum for zinc in the human system, although there is an established level of importance. It is closely associated with proteins in foods, is prevalent in several natural grain sources and in fish. It is significant in fighting off Beriberi. But, as in most trace minerals, it is measured not so much by what it can do, as by the dysfunctions that may occur when it is missing in the system. Lack in zinc brings about such afflictions as Anemia and hypoglandism. Furthermore, recent findings indicate that zinc levels may be the mineral directly tied to sexual potency and genito-urinary complications. Oysters and eggs, two purportedly aphrodisiac foods, are extremely high in zinc content. And even more significantly, recent scientific findings indicate that large numbers of men experiencing Prostatitis and acute prostatitis show a zinc deficiency.
Now that we have an indication of what too little zinc can do to the human system, we have to ask, "Can there be too much?" At present, there is no established toxicity for zinc. However, an excess is known to inhibit the effect of other minerals, especially the all-important mineral, iron. Zinc, however, does seem to be a catalyst for the body proteins and therefore provides a mystery value not measureable in the chemistry labs, at least not at this point.
ref: Silent Healer (pg. 52) by Bill Coats R.Ph., with Robert Ahola