Zinc (Zn)
bound to protein is present in
OCCURRENCE IN THE BODY:
 An adult has about 2 grams of zinc.
 Highest concentrations found in the
muscles over 60%.
 The liver, pancreas, kidney, bone
and voluntary muscles have the
largest concentration.
 Tissues with high zinc include the
various parts of the eye (lens,
retina, cornea and iris), prostate
gland and spermatozoa, skin, hair,
and nails.
 In the blood, RBC has more zinc
than serum. Most of the zinc in the
blood is localized in erythrocytes and
leukocytes.
MEASUREMENT and RECOMMENDED
INTAKE:
 Zinc is measured by gram (g),
milligram (mg), and microgram (ug).
 The normal human zinc intake is
estimated at 10-15 mg/day.
FUNCTIONS:
 Essential for growth, repair tissues,
and gonadal development in man.
 Essential component of the following
enzymes: Carbonic anhydrase,
carboxypeptidase, lactic
dehydrogenase
 Participates in ribonucleic acid
(RNA).
 Zinc combines readily with insulin in
the pancreas.
 Has a favorable effect on wound
healing.
 Play a role in the contraction and
relaxation of muscles.
 May serve as detoxifying agent.
 A considerable quantity of zinc
leukocytes although its function in
white cells is unknown.
 Needed for the ability to taste foods.
 Important for proper functioning of
the immune system.
 It is important to the production of
prostaglandins the regulate many
body processes including:
 Blood pressure
 Heart rate
 Normal functioning of the oil
glands of the skin
 Involved in the mineralization of
bone and may protect the body from
heavy-metal (lead poisoning).
 Involved in blood clotting, affects the
function of the thyroid hormone, and
helps maintain blood cholesterol
levels, and influences behavior and
learning performances.
 Very important for the development
of fetus in pregnancy.
 Needed for the synthesis of
testosterone.
FOOD SOURCES:
 The most readily available form of
zinc occurs in animal flesh,
particularly red meats and poultry.
 Other rich sources are seafoods,
shellfish, liver, whole grains and egg
yolk.
DEFICIENCY:
 Could be cause by dietary
insufficiency, poor availability,
increased losses from the body due
to bleeding (GIT infestation),
excessive sweating, and excessive
excretion as in alcoholism.
 change cholesterol metabolism and
appear to possibly accelerate
 Effects include: development of atherosclerosis.
 Growth retardation and poor  Renal failure may also occur with
healing. toxicity from zinc.
 Hypogonadism  Severe gastrointestinal irritation and
 Illnesses in which both the serum vomiting have occurred following an
and erythrocyte levels of zinc intake of 2 g (2,000 mg) of zinc
decrease. sulfate.
Symptoms of zinc deficiency include:
 Anemia
 Slowed growth
 Birth defects
 Spontaneous abortion
 Delayed sexual maturation
 Sterility
 Reduced taste perception
 Slow healing of wounds
 Poor alcohol tolerance
 Glucose intolerance
 Mental disorders
 Skin and hair problems
 Loss of appetite
 Skeletal abnormalities
 Poor resistance to infection

 Zinc deficiency is associated with an

increased incidence and severity of
pneumonia.
 Excessive intakes of iron or copper
may interfere with absorption of zinc
and produce zinc deficiency.

TOXICITY:

 Excess oral ingestion of zinc to the

point of toxicity (100-300 mg/day) is
rare.
 Zinc poisoning results in increased
losses of iron and copper.
 Doses of 150-300 mg/day over time
(over 10 times recommended intake)
can lower levels of white blood cells;
and lower blood levels of copper.
Such doses are associated with