Zinc deficiency: symptoms, diagnosis, and more

If you’re not getting enough zinc in your diet, you may experience symptoms such as hair loss, lack of alertness, and a reduced sense of taste and smell. Zinc is a mineral that your body

uses for fighting off infections and producing cells. It’s important for healing injuries and creating DNA, the genetic blueprint in all of your cells. Zinc deficiency is rare in the United

States, but it still occurs in some people. Symptoms Zinc is used by your body in cell production and immune functions. There is still a lot more to learn about zinc, but we do know that

zinc is an essential part of growth, sexual development, and reproduction. When you’re zinc deficient, your body can’t produce healthy, new cells. This leads to symptoms such as: *

unexplained weight loss * wounds that won’t heal * lack of alertness * decreased sense of smell and taste * diarrhea * loss of appetite * open sores on the skin > SUMMARY > Zinc is 

essential for growth and sexual development, a deficiency in > this mineral can lead to a variety of physical ailments. Risk factors If you’re pregnant and have zinc deficiency, your baby

might not have what it needs to develop properly in your womb. And if you and your partner are trying to become pregnant, zinc deficiency could make it difficult. That’s because zinc

deficiency may lead to impotence in men. READ MORE: THE LINK BETWEEN ZINC AND ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION » The people at the highest risk of zinc deficiency in the United States are infants who

are breastfeeding and older adults. Pregnant women need more zinc than usual because the zinc in their body is needed to help the developing baby. People with alcoholism are also at risk of

deficiency. Some research shows that alcohol makes it harder for your body to digest zinc. > SUMMARY > It’s important for pregnant women to maintain healthy zinc levels > during and

 (if breastfeeding) after pregnancy to ensure the proper > development of their baby. Diagnosing zinc deficiency Zinc is distributed in trace amounts among the cells in your body, making

it difficult to detect zinc deficiency through a simple blood test. If your doctor suspects a zinc deficiency, they will need to test your blood plasma for an accurate reading. Other tests

for zinc deficiency include a urine test and an analysis of a strand of your hair to measure the zinc content. Sometimes zinc deficiency is a symptom of another condition. For example, some

conditions may cause zinc to be processed in your body but not absorbed well. Zinc deficiency can also lead to copper deficiency. Your doctor will be aware of these possibilities. They may

do additional testing to get to the root of your deficiency. > SUMMARY > A zinc deficiency can be diagnosed using a blood test, urine test, > or hair analysis. As some conditions 

can lead to a zinc deficiency, > your doctor may do additional testing to discover the root cause. Treating zinc deficiency DIET CHANGES Long-term treatment for zinc deficiency starts

with changing your diet. To start, consider eating more: * red meat * poultry * seeds * wheat germ * wild rice * oysters If you’re a vegetarian, it might be more difficult to get the amount

of zinc you need from the foods you eat. Consider baked beans, cashews, peas, and almonds as alternative sources of zinc. The United States Department of Agriculture keeps an up-to-date,

comprehensive list of foods that are high in zinc. Add more of these foods to your diet to help prevent deficiency. SUPPLEMENTS You can also treat your zinc deficiency right away with

supplements. Zinc is found in many multivitamin supplements. It’s also found in some cold medicines, though you shouldn’t take cold medicine if you’re not sick. You can also buy supplements

that contain only zinc. If you’re using supplements to boost the amount of zinc in your body, be careful. Zinc can interact with some antibiotics, arthritis medications, and diuretics. Shop

for zinc supplements online. > SUMMARY > Changing your diet to include foods rich in zinc is the best way to > treat a zinc deficiency. Zinc supplements are available but should

> be used with caution, as they can interfere with certain > medications. When to call your doctor In most cases, a zinc deficiency is not an emergency. That said, if you are pregnant

or breastfeeding and suspect a zinc deficiency, it’s extremely important that you address it right away. Zinc is essential to healthy development in the womb. If you know that you are

deficient and have diarrhea that lasts for several days, you should call a doctor. Zinc is the mineral that helps your intestines fight off infection, and without it, your infection might

become more serious. As with any condition, you should contact your healthcare provider if you: * feel dizzy or nauseous * have a sudden headache that will not go away * experience

unconsciousness > SUMMARY > A zinc deficiency is not an emergency in most cases. However you > should contact your doctor if you suspect you may have a zinc > deficiency, 

especially if you are pregnant. Outlook Zinc deficiency happens in the United States. But through dietary changes and supplements, it’s possible to reverse. People with zinc deficiency can

address the problem by seeking out sources of zinc and being mindful of what they eat.