Zinc Deficiency Suppresses Development of Oral Tolerance in Rats
Oral tolerance is the process by which the immune system surrounding the GI tract (close to 2/3 of the immune system is centered around the GI tract) samples an antigen (such as a protein from foods) and decides that this substance is okay and sends that same signal out to the rest of the body. Without this process, our body would be under the impression that we are under perpetual attack from proteins in our food.
nutrition.org — Abstracts: Finamore et al. 133 (1): 191