Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 7, Issue 5 377-384, Copyright © 1988 by American College of Nutrition

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Zinc in growth and development and spectrum of human zinc deficiency

A. S. Prasad
Wayne State University School of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Detroit, Michigan 48201.

Growth retardation is seen in experimental animals as a result of severe dietary restriction of several essential trace elements. However, in humans, the effect of zinc deficiency is most pronounced. Growth failure and hypogonadism in males, related to a deficiency of zinc, have been recognized in many developing countries. A mild deficiency of zinc, affecting growth and development in children and adolescents, has been reported from developed countries as well. Zinc deficiency in humans may manifest as severe, moderate, or mild. The manifestations of severe zinc deficiency include bullous pustular dermatitis, alopecia, diarrhea, emotional disorder, weight loss, intercurrent infections due to cell-mediated immune dysfunctions, hypogonadism in males, neurosensory disorders, and problems with healing of ulcers. This condition can be fatal. A moderate level of zinc deficiency has been reported in a variety of conditions. Clinical manifestations include growth retardation and male hypogonadism in adolescence, rough skin, poor appetite, mental lethargy, delayed wound healing, cell-mediated immune dysfunctions, and abnormal neurosensory changes. A mild level of zinc deficiency may manifest with decreased serum testosterone level and oligospermia in males, decreased lean body mass, hyper-ammonemia, neurosensory changes, anergy, decreased serum thymulin activity, and decreased IL-2 activity. Although the clinical aspects of severe and moderate levels of zinc deficiency are well known, the recognition of mild levels of zinc deficiency has been difficult. Currently plasmas zinc appears to be the most widely used parameter for assessment of human zinc status, and it is known to be decreased in cases of severe and moderate deficiency of zinc.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. K. Patel The Role of Nutrition in the Management of Lower Extremity Wounds International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, March 1, 2005; 4(1): 12 - 22. [Abstract] [PDF]

				I. P. M. Wauben, H.-C. Xing, and P. E. Wainwright Neonatal Dietary Zinc Deficiency in Artificially Reared Rat Pups Retards Behavioral Development and Interacts with Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency to Alter Liver and Brain Fatty Acid Composition J. Nutr., October 1, 1999; 129(10): 1773 - 1781. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. Y. J. Wu, S. K. Reaves, Y. R. Wang, Y. Wu, P. P. Lei, and K. Y. Lei Zinc deficiency decreases plasma level and hepatic mRNA abundance of apolipoprotein A-I in rats and hamsters Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, December 1, 1998; 275(6): C1516 - C1525. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]