Deficiency of Zinc - Symptoms, Diet

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Posted in Category : General Health | June 2, 2010

Deficiency of Zinc - Symptoms, Diet

Zinc is one of the essential elements in our body that helps to maintain life and without this element we would deteriorate quite rapidly and die.

The reason for this is that zinc is ubiquitous in many systems of the body because it forms a part of the constitution of many of the body's enzymes.

Besides this, it is one of the elements that is used in a cellular process called transduction and cellular signaling.

In men, the prostatic fluid or seminal fluid is mostly made up of zinc.

This is one of the reasons for men being less susceptible to uterine tract infections since zinc is cytotoxic to bacteria.

The main reason for the difference is also the fact that men have a longer urethra than women.

Zinc is not just an important element for humans but for all life and therefore, it is quite easy to acquire this from the diet.

However, with modern farming techniques there is a high risk of soil being depleted of its zinc concentration.

This then causes less zinc to exist within the plant and this deficiency can end up being transmitted up through the food chain to humans.

The ideal intake of zinc is set at 8 mg a day for women and 11 mg a day for men.

Unfortunately, this level cannot be maintained by 1 in every 3 people in the world.

This leads to the development of a number of ailments and conditions that affect many systems and most affected is the neurological systems.

Besides deficient intake from the food chain, it is also possible for inherent problems within the body like diarrhea causing a lack of absorption.

Deficiency of zinc can first be noticed in the fingernails with white spots and bands forming on the nails.

As the deficiency increases, ironically, anorexia is one of the first problems that crops up.

Cognitive and nervous system deficiencies are most visible in growing children with zinc deficiency and this can cause impairment of memory, decreased emotional function, and abnormal stress responses.

Interestingly, the deficiency of zinc could be triggered by diarrhea but can also end up causing it.

Women who suffer extreme dysmenorrhea could also be suffering from a zinc deficiency.

Treating this condition requires an immediate supplementation orally or intravenously with a level of up to 20 mg a day.

This will build up stores of the element and should be continued for a period of seven days.

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