Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Selenium and Immune Function
Zinc and Immune Function
Zinc is one of the most essential trace elements in the body’s immune system, and its many biochemical functions are important for maintaining normal immune function in organisms. Zinc deficiency can damage the function of the thymus gland, reduce the phagocytosis of neutrophils and macrophages, reduce the activity of natural killer cells, and increase the chances of viral and bacterial infections and mycobacterial infections; the chances of infections and inflammation of the cow’s body are increased.
Copper and immune function
Copper plays an important role in the immune process. Copper deficiency reduces the number of lymphocytes in lymphoid tissues and organs. Copper is an important structural component of serum immunoglobulin, and copper deficiency leads to defects in T-lymphocyte function. Copper also activates the activity of natural killer cells, macrophages and the function of lymphokines, which are mainly bactericidal and bacteriolytic and play a role in phagocytosis and antibody defense. Copper deficiency causes a decline in cellular immunity, humoral immunity and non-specific immune function.
Manganese and immune function
Divalent manganese can stimulate immune organs to produce immune cells, thus enhancing the cellular immune function of the body. Manganese can increase the content of interferon in the body and enhance the phagocytosis of macrophages. Manganese deficiency will lead to a decrease in the weight of immune organs such as the thymus and spleen. Insufficient or excessive manganese will inhibit the production of antibodies.
Selenium and immune function
Selenium deficiency reduces the ability of neutrophils in the blood and milk of dairy cows to kill mastitis pathogens and reduces the amount of free radicals in neutrophils. Decrease the phagocytosis of macrophages and the function of lymphokines. This leads to a decrease in the immunity of the cow’s body and makes it easy to be infected with mastitis.
Other effects of zinc, manganese and copper
Zinc has the effect of regulating appetite, manganese is necessary for the synthesis of cholesterol, cholesterol is a precursor substance for the synthesis of steroid hormones, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, so the lack of manganese leads to disorders in the estrous cycle of cows, affecting reproduction. Copper is one of the elements of hemoglobin synthesis, as is iron. Copper deficiency can lead to copper deficiency anemia.
Advantages of Organic Trace
High bio-availability
Compared with inorganic trace elements, organic trace elements have higher bioavailability. Mainly because the general trace elements inorganic salts and organic salts are ingested by the moving object, must first with the help of coenzymes, and amino acids or other substances to form chelates or complexes, before they can be absorbed by the body. After absorption, the metal elements are combined with proteins and transported to the parts of the body where they are needed in order to be effective. Zinc methionine, copper methionine and other amino acid chelates or complexes are the main form of metal ion absorption and transportation in the animal body, and also the main intermediate product of protein synthesis process in the animal body, which is not only absorbed quickly, but also reduces many biochemical processes and saves energy consumption, which makes it have a high biological efficiency. In addition, there is an essential amino acid pool in the animal body, and the organic trace elements whose ligands are essential amino acids are more likely to be stored in the form of amino acids or small peptides in the body, preventing rapid metabolism, thus increasing the animal trace element body reserves. Therefore, compared with inorganic trace elements, the amount of organic trace elements is less, and the safety and benefits are higher.
