In 2012, the estimated proportion of the global population with a high risk of zinc deficiency was approximately 17%.[1] However, the estimated proportion varied widely across countries, reaching approximately 8% in high-income countries and going much higher in low-income and middle-income regions (e.g., approximately 26% in Sub-Saharan Africa and 30% in South Asia).[1] A study published in 2020 found similar rates of zinc deficiency in low-income and middle-income countries.[2]
Importantly, the estimated prevalence of zinc deficiency in children less than 5 years of age is also high (greater than 20%) in both high-income[3] and low-income/middle-income countries.[2]
A note on zinc levels
Determining zinc status can be challenging. Commonly used markers include zinc levels in the plasma, urine, and red blood cells; however, all of these can be influenced by confounding factors and may not reflect the true level of zinc in the body.[4] For this reason, it is also important to evaluate clinical signs and symptoms of zinc deficiency as well as improvements after beginning supplementation.[5]