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Doctors for Zinc Deficiency 
OTC Medicines for Zinc Deficiency
What is zinc deficiency?
Zinc is a vital mineral which you obtain from food and dietary supplements. It plays an important role in several functions of the body, like protein and DNA synthesis, growth and development during pregnancy and childhood, proper sense of smell and taste, wound healing and immune function. A regular intake of zinc in an adequate amount is necessary, as there is no storage system for zinc in the body. The reduced intake and availability of zinc in the body is called zinc deficiency.
What are its main signs and symptoms?
The common symptoms of zinc deficiency are:
- Appetite loss
- Growth retardation
- Reduced immunity
The rare and severe deficiency symptoms include:
- Diarrhoea
- Loss of hair
- Impotence
- Delayed puberty
- Skin and eye lesions
- Hypogonadism in men
Other symptoms like delayed wound healing, weight loss, lethargy and reduced taste sensation may also be associated with zinc deficiency.
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What are the main causes?
The main causes of zinc deficiency are:
- Inadequate intake
- Improper absorption
- Increased zinc requirement by the body
- Increased loss of zinc from the body
The following factors increase the risk of zinc deficiency:
- Poor dietary intake
- Alcoholism
- Gastrointestinal diseases like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, tropical sprue which reduces zinc absorption from food
- Pregnancy and lactation where the need of zinc is increased
How is it diagnosed and treated?
A blood test is used to identify a severe deficiency of zinc by checking the levels of zinc in the blood. Levels of alkaline phosphatase enzyme and albumin also help diagnose zinc deficiency.
Zinc replacement is the mainstay of treatment in zinc deficiency. The dose of zinc supplement varies depending on the underlying cause.
The skin lesions produced due to zinc deficiency cannot be treated using a moisturiser and topical steroids.
Increasing the dietary intake of zinc can also be helpful in the management of the condition. Foods like oysters, red meat, poultry, nuts, beans, whole grains and dairy products contain an adequate amount of zinc to meet the requirements of the body.
