Zinc is necessary for the normal activity of plusminus 300 enzymes, and is essential for the division of cells and the junction of DNA and protein. The immune system needs adequate levels of zinc to function at its best. Zinc is so important to the immune system that even a mild deficiency can lead to an increased risk of infection like the common cold, sore throat and influenza. It is well recognized that the immune system weakens with age, and that a zinc deficiency may be partly to blame. Zinc is present in all the tissues of the body and is an essential component of a wide range of enzymes. It is also necessary for the maintaining and replicating of each individual’s genetic material and the body’s ability to  interpret this genetic information. This mineral is vital for the normal growth of the body. It plays an especially important role in the development of the ovaries and the testes- a deficiency in childhood and adolescence impairs growth and sexual development. The mineral zinc is also important to the elderly, who may be particularly vulnerable to infections. Zinc is necessary for a healthy appetite and assists in the ability to taste foods. It is needed for night vision, the metabolizing of alcohol, and is also required by enzymes involved in the destruction of free radicals. The likelihood of zinc poisoning is remote.