Causes
Risk factors for zinc deficiency include the following:[1][2][3]
- Inadequate intake (e.g., malnutrition, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa)
- Malabsorption (e.g., short bowel syndrome, bariatric surgery, inflammatory bowel disease)
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Critical health states (e.g., burns, trauma, sepsis)
- Alcohol abuse
- Acrodermatitis enteropathica (a genetic disorder that impairs zinc absorption)
- Certain health conditions (e.g., sickle cell disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, HIV, chronic liver disease)
- Certain medications (e.g., diuretics, angiotensin receptor blockers, penicillamine)
Signs and Symptoms
Because zinc plays a role in a variety of bodily functions, the symptoms of zinc deficiency can arise in several organs (muscles, skin, and bones) and organ systems (immune, digestive, reproductive, and central nervous systems).[4] However, many of the symptoms can also be caused by other conditions besides zinc deficiency. Therefore, a person who suspects they have a zinc deficiency should consult a doctor for further tests.
Signs and symptoms of zinc deficiency:
| Body system | Clinical signs and symptoms |
|---|---|
| Central nervous system | Behavioral changes, loss of appetite, depression, psychosis, reduced ability to taste, reduced sense of smell, night blindness, seizure disorder, impaired cognitive performance |
| Alterations in skin/hair/nails | Bullous (a skin condition); pustular lesions; keratotic lesions; rough skin; loss of scalp, facial, and body hair; impaired wound healing |
| Gastrointestinal symptoms | Diarrhea, impaired nutrient digestion and absorption |
| Impaired growth and development | Slowing of linear growth, weight loss |
| Altered reproductive biology | Low sperm count, hypogonadism and reduced potency, fetal malformations |
| Impaired immunity | Recurrent infections, impaired immune response |
Adapted from “Pharmaco-nutrient interactions - a systematic review of zinc and antihypertensive therapy” (Table 2), L. Braun & F. Rosenfeldt, 2013, Int J Clin Pract. DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.12040
Diagnosis
Zinc deficiency can be diagnosed by measuring levels of zinc in the serum or plasma.[1][3] However, these can be influenced by confounding factors and may not reflect the true level of zinc in the body.[5] For this reason, it is also important to evaluate clinical signs and symptoms of zinc deficiency as well as improvements after beginning supplementation.[6]