Hambidge, M.
(2000)
Zinc and Health: Current Status and Future Directions.
J. Nutr., 130.
1344S-1349S.
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to provide a current overview of the significance of zinc in human nutrition.
To achieve this, the following issues are addressed: (1) the biochemistry and biology of zinc in the context of their
relevance to zinc in human nutrition and to our understanding of the complexity and practical importance of human zinc
deficiency; (2) the history of our understanding of human zinc deficiency with an emphasis both on its brevity and on
notable recent progress; (3) the clinical spectrum of severe zinc deficiency; (4) the lack of ideal biomarkers for milder zinc
deficiency states, with the consequent dependence on randomized, placebo-controlled intervention studies to ascertain
their prevalence and clinical consequences, including growth delay, diarrhea, pneumonia, other infections, disturbed
neuropsychological performance and abnormalities of fetal development; (5) the public health significance of human
zinc deficiency in the developing world; (6) reasons for concern and unanswered questions about zinc nutriture in the
United States; (7) the need for better understanding of human zinc metabolism and homeostasis (including its
limitations) at a molecular, cellular, organ-system and whole body level and of factors that affect zinc bioavailability; and
(8) potential strategies for the prevention and management of human zinc deficiency. This review concludes with an
emphasis on the immediate need for expanded research in directions that have become increasingly well demarcated
and impelling as a result of recent progress, which is summarized in this overview.
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