User:Mr. Ibrahem/Zinc deficiency

Zinc deficiency is a mineral deficiency due to not enough zinc to meet the bodies needs. Symptoms may include diarrhea, hair loss, sexual dysfunction, night blindness, skin rash, increased risk of infections, weight loss, poor healing, abnormal taste, and mental slowness. In children it may result in poor growth. During pregnancy it may result in birth defects or low birth weight.

The most common cause is reduced dietary intake. Other causes may include poor absorption, increased loss, or increased use. Risk factors may include inflammatory bowel disease, short bowel syndrome, liver or kidney problems, vegetarians, alcoholism, and other long term diseases. It may also occur as a result of a genetic condition known as acrodermatitis enteropathica. Diagnosis is often based on symptoms and risk factors as blood zinc levels are not that accurate.

Dietary sounds include meat, beans, and nuts. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) in the USA is 8 mg/day for women and 11 mg/day for men. Treatment is by zinc supplementation at a dose of 1 to 3 mg/kg elemental zinc per day. Improvement generally occurs within days to weeks.

Zinc deficiency affect about 2 billion people worldwide. It most commonly affects children in the developing world, and old people in the developed world. It is uncommon in North America. It is estimated to be involved in nearly half a million deaths in children under 5 a year.