Zinc Deficiency
Overview
Zinc is a vital micronutrient, which helps the body to perform many of its normal functions. Even though the amount of zinc required is not much, a poor diet can lead to zinc deficiency.
Causes
There are multiple causes of zinc deficiency, but these are the main ones:
- Dietary deficiency
- Poor absorption of zinc in the GIT
Chronic conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, celiac disease, kidney disease, etc.
Symptoms
Some of the common symptoms of this health condition are listed below:
- Appetite loss
- Slow growth
- Weakened immune system
- Delayed sexual maturity
- Diarrhea
- Skin lesions
- Feeling lethargic
- Poor wound healing
- Unexplained weight loss
- Impotence
Diagnosis
For the diagnosis of zinc deficiency, the most important diagnostic tool is taking a complete and comprehensive medical history from the patient. The history should include questions about the patient’s diet, bowel habits, chronic diseases, and symptoms of zinc deficiency, as well as undiagnosed chronic diseases.
Treatment
The treatment is very simple and aims to bring the patient’s zinc levels up:
- Zinc supplements
- Increasing intake of zinc-containing foods
