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zinc deficiency
Etiology:
1) see serum Zn+2
2) there are no stores of Zn+2 in the body
3) Crohn's disease
Pathology:
- delayed wound healing
- impaired immune function
Clinical manifestations:
- growth retardation
- alterations in taste & smell
- hypogonadism in males
- hepatosplenomegaly
- geophagia
- diarrhea
- alopecia
- dermatitis [4] (images) erythematous, vesiculobulous, pustular
- acrodermatitis enteropathica
- perioral dermatitis
Management:
- zinc supplementation
- RDA is 15 mg/day
- 50 mg/day is probably safe
- excessive zinc supplementation coincident with marginal copper status may be associated with sudden cardiac death [2]
Related
zinc (Zn+2) in serum/plasma
zinc toxicity
Zn+2
General
mineral deficiency
References
- Bakerman's ABC's of Interpretive Laboratory Data
Bakerman S, Bakerman P, Strausbach P
Interpretive Laboratory Data In, Scottsdale 2002
- Spencer JC.
Direct relationship between the body's copper/zinc ratio,
ventricular premature beats, and sudden coronary death.
Am J Clin Nutr. 1979 Jun;32(6):1184-5.
PMID: 443186
- Geriatric Review Syllabus, 7th edition
Parada JT et al (eds)
American Geriatrics Society, 2010
- Schroder SD, Griebl SW
Images in Clinical Medicine, Zinc Deficiency-Associated Dermatitis.
N Engl J Med 2020; 383:e103. Oct 29
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm2003516
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 19
Board Basics. An Enhancement to MKSAP19.
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2022