I have been getting my Zinc levels checked by my doctor since January this year.
Before I can get released from his care, he wants me Zinc levels to be consistently normal for 3 months in a row.
My levels have been consistently low, and he cannot understand why, considering how much meat I take in my diet.
So I checked Wikipedia page for "Zinc deficiency" and I found some things that sound like they are describing Asperger symptoms in animals.
From Wikipedia
Quote:
Cognitive and motor function impairment
Cognitive and motor function may also be impaired in zinc deficient children. Zinc deficiency can interfere with many organ systems especially when it occurs during a time of rapid growth and development when nutritional needs are high, such as during infancy.[15] In animal studies, rats who were deprived of zinc during early fetal development exhibited increased emotionality, poor memory, and abnormal response to stress which interfered with performance in learning situations.[16] Zinc deprivation in monkeys showed that zinc deficient animals were emotionally less mature, and also had cognitive deficits indicated by their difficulty in retaining previously learned problems and in learning new problems.[16] Human observational studies show weaker results. Low maternal zinc status has been associated with less attention during the neonatal period and worse motor functioning.[17] In some studies, supplementation has been associated with motor development in very low birth weight infants and more vigorous and functional activity in infants and toddlers.[17]
Also, I can confirm that I always had "white spots" on my fingernails as a child. According to Wikipedia, this is apparently one of the signs of Zinc deficiency.
My Zinc levels have been low for 5 out of the last 7 months. For that months where my levels reaching normal, I have been taking a Zinc supplement, which the doctor asked me not to do. He wants to see if my Zinc levels can be normal without any supplements or medicines.
Do you think my Zinc levels being low could be related to my AS?
28 Jul 2010, 12:20 am
