Zinc Deficiency
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Zinc deficiency is common, with at least 45% of the population being at risk of zinc deficiency. The following are the groups who may be at a high risk of having a zinc deficiency:
- People eating a very high fibre diet
People who eat a high fibre diet, especially when the fibre is from whole grains, may become deficient in zinc because the fibre binds with the zinc in the diet and keeps it from being absorbed by eliminating it before it can be absorbed. - People over 50 years
People who are over 50 years of age may become deficient in zinc because the body's ability to absorb and use zinc from foods decreases with age. - People taking diuretics
People taking diuretics are eliminating a lot of fluid from the body, so could become deficient not just in zinc but in many other nutrients, especially the electrolytes too (calcium, chloride, phosphorus, potassium, sodium). - People who abuse alcohol or other drugs
People who abuse alcohol and other drugs may not have a very good diet in general, so may not get enough dietary zinc as a start, but the alcohol (and other drugs) also eliminates the zinc too quickly from the body, so a zinc deficiency may ensue. - People who are under prolonged stress
People who are under prolonged stress are using up the body stores of zinc more quickly than usual and may be deficient in zinc. - People who have undergone surgery
People who have undergone surgery may need extra zinc because the body is using it to help the body heal more quickly from the injuries to the body tissues from the surgery (all surgery causes some damage to tissues but zinc helps to heal the body much more quickly and enable faster recovery).
Zinc deficiency is common, with at least 45% of the population being at risk of zinc deficiency
- People with severe burns or injuries
People with severe burns or injuries may need extra zinc because the body is using up so much of it very quickly to help heal the severe burns and injuries in order to aid in the wound healing. - People who live in areas where zinc in the soil is low
People who live in areas where zinc in the soil is low may become deficient in zinc because the plant-based foods they are eating could have much lower than normal levels of zinc due to the soil quality. - People with chronic diarrhoea
People with chronic diarrhoea will not be absorbing much of the dietary zinc because of the continual excretion through the diarrhoea, so could become deficient not just in zinc but in many other nutrients, especially the electrolytes too (calcium, chloride, phosphorus, potassium, sodium). - People with various digestive disorders
People with various digestive disorders such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease may need more zinc in their diet through either zinc-rich foods or supplements because these digestive disorders inhibit the absorption of zinc (and other nutrient) thus limiting the effects of the zinc intake and causing a deficiency. - Strict vegetarians or vegans
Strict vegetarians or vegans may become deficient in zinc because animal foods have the highest dietary levels of zinc (oysters and meat especially), while fruits have basically no zinc and vegetables have some. Children who do not eat any animal foods may be at most at risk of zinc deficiency. - Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need a higher dietary intake of zinc to help the growing foetus (during pregnancy) and the growing baby (when breastfeeding) with its development and health.