Minerals

Zinc Deficiency

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Zinc Deficiency

  • Epidemiology
  1. Associated with 1.8 million deaths per year in malnourished persons worldwide
  2. Zinc Deficiency is estimated to affect 30% of the world population
  • See Also
  1. Zinc
  • Symptoms
  1. Erectile Dysfunction
  2. Diarrhea
  3. Alopecia
  4. Glossitis
  5. Nail Dystrophy
  • Signs
  1. Growth retardation (especially head growth)
  2. Delayed Puberty
  3. Hypogonadism
  • Associated Conditions
  1. Autusm
  2. Attention Deficit Disorder
  • Causes
  1. Acrodermatitis enteropathica (zinc malabsorption syndrome)
  2. Malnutrition
    1. Developing countries
    2. Alcoholism
    3. Celiac Sprue
    4. Cirrhosis
    5. Crohn Disease
    6. Gastric Bypass
    7. Prolonged intravenous feeding
    8. Short bowel syndrome
    9. Vegan diet
  3. Pregnancy and Lactation
  4. Sickle Cell Disease
  5. Critically ill children (associated with organ failure)
  • Labs
  1. Serum zinc levels are not a reliable measure of zinc stores
  • Diagnosis
  1. Zinc Deficiency is a clinical diagnosis rather than a lab diagnosis
  2. Base diagnosis on symptoms, signs, risk factors and overall Malnutrition
  • Management
  1. See Zinc for RDA levels
  2. Mild Zinc Deficiency
    1. Zinc at 2-3 times the RDA for 6 months
  3. Severe Zinc Deficiency
    1. Zinc at 4-5 times the RDA for 6 months