Active people who get too little zinc in their diets may run out of juice sooner than they should, new research suggests.
The study found that when 14 active young men followed a 9-week diet low in zinc, their cardiovascular fitness dipped in comparison to their performance during 9 weeks on a zinc-fortified diet.
The reason appears to be related to an enzyme in the body called carbonic anhydrase, which relies on zinc for proper functioning. The carbonic anhydrase enzymes in red blood cells help the body expel carbon dioxide, with the demand rising substantially during exercise.
Low zinc intake may sap exercisers' energy
