Zinc is a mineral that acts as an antioxidant in the body. It is found in animal foods like meat and fish and plays important roles in growth, wound healing, immune function, and insulin production. Zinc deficiency can result in loss of taste and appetite, skin issues, impaired immunity, growth problems, delayed sexual maturation, and poor wound healing. Supplementing zinc along with oral rehydration solution can reduce the duration and severity of diarrhea in children.

1. Zinc Deficiency
DR NARENDRA KUMAR YADAV
MD Community Medicine & Tropical Diseases, BPKIHS

2. Classification of food on the basis of chemical composition:

3. Zinc:
Micronutrients
Minerals(Trace element)
Antioxidant

4. Sources of Zinc:
1. Animal Food: Fish, Meat, Milk
2. Vegetable: Low Bioavailability
The average adult body contains 1.4 to 2.3 g of zinc.
RDA: Adult (10mg/day)
Pregnancy & lactation (15-20mg/day)

5. Functions of Zinc:
Required for: Synthesis of Insulin by Pancreas
Normal growth & Wound Healing
Important for the immune system
Sexual development
Antioxidant

6. Clinical manifestations of Zn deficiency:
Loss of Taste ( Ageusia)
Loss of Appetite
Skin: Acrodermatitis Enteropathica, Acne, Eczema, Xerosis
Decreased Insulin Synthesis by Pancreas
Growth Failure
Delayed Wound Healing
Dwarfism & Hypogonadism
Sexual Infantilism in adolescent

7. Clinical manifestations of Zn deficiency: Cont.…
Impaired cell-mediated immunity: RTI (Pneumonia), gastrointestinal
infection(diarrhoea)
Pernicious Anemia/ Megaloblastic Anemia
Thalassemia
Myocardial Infraction
Hepatosplenomegaly
Maternal Zinc deficiency: Spontaneous abortion, LBW, IUGR, Preterm
delivery, Anencephaly

8. Diarrhoea in children:
Zinc supplementation in combination with ORS reduces the
Duration and severity of Diarrhoea:
Dose:
< 6 Months 10 mg/day
> 6 Months 20mg/day
Zinc Toxicity: Pulmonary Fibrosis

9. MCQ
Q. Zinc deficiency leads to all except:
A. Delayed Sexual Maturation
B. Impaired Immune function
C. Skeletal Abnormalities
D. Excessive Appetite

10. Ans: D (Excessive Appetite)
Zn Deficiency Causes: Loss of Appetite

11. MCQ
Q. Zinc deficiency is characterized by:
A. Sexual infantilism
B. Poor growth
C. Poor wound healing
D. All of the above

12. Ans: D (All of the above)

13. MCQ
Q. One of the following is not reported to be a clinical manifestation
of Zinc deficiency in children:
A. Increased insulin synthesis
B. Liver and spleen enlargement
C. Impaired cell-mediated immunity
D. Macrocytic anemia

14. Ans: A (Increased insulin synthesis)
 Zn Deficiency Causes: Decreased Insulin
Synthesis by Pancreas

15. MCQ
Q. Zinc supplement given in 12 month baby:
A. 20mg/day
B. 10 mg/day
C. 5 mg/day
D.15 mg/day

16. Ans: A (20mg/day)
< 6 Months 10 mg/day
> 6 Months 20mg/day

17. The End