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- Elements -

34: ZINC

Our bodies need zinc for many different functions, which include protein and carbohydrate metabolism, wound healing, growth and vision.

Several groups of people are at risk of developing dietary zinc deficiency. If you restrict your food to vegetables, and particularly wholegrain cereals, you could become deficient in zinc. Although zinc is present in these foods, it is not utilized by the body as efficiently as the zinc in other sources, such as meat, eggs and liver. Alcoholics also develop zinc deficiency, due to an inadequate diet and to large losses of zinc in their urine. Zinc deficiency also appears to be a problem in some disease states. Inadequate zinc intake can result in retarded growth, delayed wound healing, loss of taste sensation and dermatitis.

ZINC INTAKE

The dietary requirement for zinc must take into account the different degree of availability of zinc in different foods. Animal products are more efficient sources compared with cereals. The recommended dietary intake for zinc assumes that the zinc comes from mixed animal and plant sources. For people who do not eat animal products a higher intake may be necessary.

Recommended daily dietary intake of tine (Australia):

Infants:
Children:

Adults:

Pregnancy:

Lactation:
3-6 milligrams

4.5-18 milligrams

12-16 milligrams

16-21 milligrams

18-22 milligrams

ZINC RDI:


	Elements

	-	Sodium
	-	Potassium
	-	Calcium
	-	Magnesium
	-	Iron
	-	Phosporus
	-	Sulphur
	-	Chlorine
	-	Copper
		Zinc
	-	Iodine
	-	Fluorine
	-	Chromium
	-	Manganese
	-	Selenium
	-	Cobalt
	-	Molybdenum
	-	Nickel
	-	Tin
	-	Silicon
	-	Vanadium
	-	Cadmium