Zinc as Mineral – Rich Food Sources, Functions, Deficiency & Daily Requirements for Children, Men & Women

Presentation Notes on Zinc (Zn) Vegetarian & Non Vegetarian Food Sources, Recommended Dietary allowance, Zinc deficiency disorders, Role in Human Body with Treatment in word / .doc / ppt format

Zinc:

The total content of zinc in the body is about 2.3 g of which 80-110 mg/dl is found in the plasma. High concentrations of zinc are found in choroid of eyes, prostate, kidneys, liver and muscles.

Daily requirement:

• Pregnancy: 5mg.
• Lactation: 10mg.Serumlevel 11-24umol/L.

Sources:

• Meat, liver, seafood, eggs, vegetable, Fruits and whole gram (less available due to phytates).

Absorption:

• Zinc absorption is proportional to the protein (metallothionein) level in intestinal muscosal cells. metallothionenin serves as a carrier for zinc also.
• This absorption is interfered by copper, phosphate, phytate and calcium.
• Excretion:
• Occurs through faeces and urine (in traces) and some amount in sweat.

Functions:

• Over three hundred zinc-containing enzymes have been identified, e.g., LD, carbonic anyhydrase, alkaline phosphatase, carboxypeptidase.
• Zinc is also present in cytosolic superoxide dismutase. It also contains copper. The mitochondrial superoxide dismutase contains manganese.
• It is involved in the synthesis of DNA and proteins.
• Zinc forms an essential and integral part of insulin during storage in b-islet cells. Once released, it need not bind to zinc. Long-acting insulin preparations are in the form of protamine-zinc-insulin.
• Zinc stimulates vitamin A release from liver and blood.
• Zinc protein, “gustin” is present in saliva and it plays an important role in the sense of taste.
• Zinc is involved in wound healing.

Clinical manifestations:

• Decreased levels are seen in acute and chronic infection, myocardial infarction, malignancies, patients with alcoholism liver disease and malabsorption.
• Acrodermatitis enterohepatica is a rare inherited disorder due to a defect in zinc absorption.
• Inherited zinc deficiency is associated with dermatologic, ophthalmologic and intestine disturbances, hypogonadism, growth retaradation and decreased size of male gonads.
• Zinc supplements can cure the deficiency.
• Zinc is relatively nontoxic.
• Inhalation of zinc oxide (ZnO) leads to acute illness and headache. Poisoning due to ingestion from containers causes nausea and fever.

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