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Your body requires zinc for energy and metabolism. It also protects you from diseases and plays a role in growth and healing from disease. Protein-rich foods, such as beans, red meat and peanuts contain zinc. It is estimated that one-third of the world's population is at risk of zinc deficiency. A recent Government and Unicef survey on zinc deficiency found that about 50 per cent of children less than six years and 50 per cent of women are affected.
In East Africa, one out of every two children with persistent diarrhoea are zinc-deficient, and two thirds of these children are stunted, wasted or both, and that more than half of HIV infected children have lower than normal zinc levels. Male children are more susceptible to zinc deficiency than females—but respond more readily to supplementation.
More zinc supplementation is needed for children on a cereal-based diet. Children born to Zinc-deficient pregnant mothers usually have low birth weight. Although cereals, legumes and cassava contain zinc, they also contain phytate which reduces its absorption in the gut. Cow’s milk, because of its high concentrations of calcium and casein, and soy milk, because of its phytate content, may further reduce the absorption of zinc. In contrast, zinc in breast milk is well absorbed. Vegetables and fruits contribute very little to dietary zinc intake, but eating fruit with cereal may increase zinc absorption.
The signs of zinc deficiency include stunted growth, body wasting, and diarrhoea, white spots on nails, skin lesions and frequent infections. Zinc-deficient children tend to suffer from more severe forms of diarrhoea and pneumonia. Recent research shows that adding zinc to usual treatments improves recovery and reduces the length of illness and death from pneumonia and diarrhoea among children.
Seek prompt medical care if you suspect your child is not getting adequate amounts of zinc and is experiencing symptoms of delayed or stunted growth, frequent infections, appetite and weight loss and recurrent diarrhoea.
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