Zinc is a nutrient that we need to stay healthy. Zinc is found in cells throughout the body. It helps the immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses. The body also needs zinc to make proteins and DNA. During pregnancy, infancy, and childhood the body needs zinc to grow and develop properly. Zinc also helps wounds to heal and is important for proper senses of taste and smell. Zinc blood tests are primarily ordered to help detect iron deficiency in children and to detect and monitor chronic exposure to lead in adults, as zinc is involved in the chemical process by which our body carries iron via red blood cells. Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning include:
- High blood pressure
- Numbness / tingling in the hands and feet
- Memory loss, mood disorders
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
For this reason, it is also common to assess zinc levels when iron deficiency is suspected, symptoms include:
- Chronic fatigue, tiredness
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Headaches
- Pica (cravings for specific substances like chalk, dirt, or clay)
- A burning sensation on the tongue or a smooth tongue
- Sores at the corners of the mouth
- Spoon-shaped fingernails and toenails
Low zinc serum levels can occur due to a variety of factors. These include:
→ Nutritional issues such as a lack of meat intake, which is a rich source of zinc, or a diet high in phytates from legumes, seeds, soy products, and whole grains, or oxalates from spinach, okra, nuts, and tea, which can inhibit zinc absorption. Reduced dietary intake of zinc overall is the most common cause, along with inadequate absorption, increased loss, or increased usage by the body's systems.
→ Chronic illnesses such as kidney disease, liver disease, and alcohol use disorder, as well as malabsorption issues, can lead to zinc deficiency. Stressful severe acute conditions like sepsis, burns, and head injury can also be contributing factors. Additionally, maternal zinc deficiency may cause fetal malformations and low birth weight.
→ Diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, regional enteritis (inflammation of your small intestine), sprue (a disorder in which the intestines are unable to absorb nutrients from food), intestinal bypass, and neoplastic disease (condition that causes tumor growth) can result in low serum zinc.
→ Conditions that involve increased catabolism, like the use of anabolic steroids, as well as anorexia and starvation, can also lead to low zinc levels.
Low zinc serum levels can lead to a range of symptoms, which may include:
Unexplained weight loss, wounds that won't heal, a lack of alertness, a decreased sense of smell and taste, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and open sores on the skin.
Growth impairment, sexual dysfunction, inflammation, gastrointestinal symptoms, or skin involvement.
Appetite loss, slower than expected growth, and poor immune system function. Severe zinc deficiency can exacerbate these conditions.
Delayed wound healing, impaired taste, hair loss, fertility issues, and increased susceptibility to infections.
In both children and adults, symptoms can include hair loss (alopecia), weakened immunity, anorexia, dermatitis, night blindness, anemia, lethargy, and again, delayed wound healing. For pregnant women, zinc deficiency can lead to low birth weight and preterm birth.
These symptoms can vary in severity and may be indicative of underlying health issues that are contributing to the deficiency. It is important for individuals experiencing these symptoms to consult healthcare providers for proper diagnosis and treatment.
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The main reasons for zinc levels to increase are iron deficiency and lead poisoning. In addition, zinc may be elevated in inflammatory conditions, infections, and in people with anemia of chronic disease, but zinc tests are not generally used to monitor or diagnose these conditions.
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