| Zinc deficiency | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Zinc | |
| Specialty | Endocrinology  |
| Causes | a diet high in phytate-containing whole grains |
Zinc deficiency is defined either as insufficient zinc to meet the needs of the body, or as a serum zinc level below the normal range. However, since a decrease in the serum concentration is only detectable after long-term or severe depletion, serum zinc is not a reliable biomarker for zinc status.[1] Common symptoms include increased rates of diarrhea. Zinc deficiency affects the skin and gastrointestinal tract; brain and central nervous system, immune, skeletal, and reproductive systems.
Zinc deficiency in humans is caused by reduced dietary intake, inadequate absorption, increased loss, or increased body system use. The most common cause is reduced dietary intake. In the U.S., the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 8 mg/day for women and 11 mg/day for men.[2]
The highest concentration of dietary zinc is found in oysters, meat, beans, and nuts. Increasing the amount of zinc in the soil and thus in crops and animals is an effective preventive measure. Zinc deficiency may affect up to 2 billion people worldwide.[3]
- ^ Hess SY, Peerson JM, King JC, Brown KH (September 2007). "Use of serum zinc concentration as an indicator of population zinc status". Food and Nutrition Bulletin. 28 (3 Suppl): S403-29. doi:10.1177/15648265070283S303. PMID 17988005. S2CID 13748442.
- ^ "Zinc" Archived 19 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine, pp. 442–501 in Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. National Academy Press. 2001.
- ^ Prasad AS (June 2012). "Discovery of human zinc deficiency: 50 years later". Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 26 (2–3): 66–9. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2012.04.004. PMID 22664333.