Zinc Deficiency: Treatments

How is zinc deficiency treated?

Zinc deficiency is treated by supplementation to restore amounts of zinc in your diet. This may include zinc supplements as well as increasing or introducing foods that are rich in zinc and following recommended dietary guidelines.

What you can do to improve your zinc deficiency

Zinc deficiency can be prevented by ensuring intake of the recommended amounts of zinc through:

• Obtaining zinc from dietary sources, such as peanuts and beef or lamb
• Using zinc supplements if your diet does not provide adequate levels of zinc

What are the potential complications of zinc deficiency?

Although zinc deficiency is both preventable and treatable, potential complications of untreated zinc deficiency can be serious and even life threatening in some cases. To help minimize your risk of serious complications, it is important to follow the treatment plan you and your health care provider design specifically for you. Complications of zinc deficiencies include:

• Anemia
• Delayed cognitive and physical development in children
• Frequent infections
• Malabsorption

References:

Dietary supplement fact sheet: Zinc. Office of Dietary Supplements. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/. Accessed May 31, 2011.

Zinc in diet. Medline Plus, a service of the National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002416.htm. Accessed May 31, 2011.