Zinc deficiency
Symptoms, at-risk groups, and clinical context for zinc deficiency. Sourced from NIH Office of Dietary Supplements and StatPearls.
Zinc deficiency affects an estimated 17% of the global population, with mild-to-moderate deficiency more common than overt cases. In the US, deficiency is most often seen in vegetarians, older adults, people with malabsorption, and those on long-term diuretics. Symptoms can be subtle and develop gradually.
Common symptoms
- Frequent infections, slow wound healing
- Hair loss or thinning
- Skin issues — acne, eczema, dry rough skin
- Loss of taste or smell
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea (in severe cases)
- Eye and skin lesions (in severe cases)
- Delayed growth and development in children
- Hypogonadism, impotence, or delayed puberty
- Difficulty concentrating, mental fog
At-risk groups
- Vegetarians and vegans (plant zinc has lower bioavailability due to phytates)
- Older adults (>60% may consume below the EAR)
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women
- Exclusively breastfed infants over 6 months without complementary feeding
- People with GI conditions (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, short bowel)
- People with sickle cell disease
- People with chronic kidney disease
- People with alcohol use disorder
- People taking long-term diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or penicillamine
When to see a doctor: Persistent slow wound healing combined with hair loss, recurrent infections, or loss of taste/smell warrants a zinc test (serum or plasma zinc, ideally fasting). Important: long-term zinc supplementation above 40 mg/day can cause copper deficiency — don't supplement at high doses without medical guidance.
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Related deficiencies
Nutrients with overlapping symptoms — useful when investigating an unclear clinical picture.