ՑԻՆԿԻ ԱՆԲԱՎԱՐԱՐՈՒԹՅՈՒՆԸ ՈՐՊԵՍ ՀԱՆՐԱՅԻՆ ԱՌՈՂՋՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԱՐԴԻ ԽՆԴԻՐ

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiencies are of growing public health concern. Microelements, found in trace amounts in the body, play a very important role in the regulation of basic vital functions, and in all cases when they are introduced into the body through water and food in insufficient amounts, they can cause serious health problems. On the other hand, the features of the modern diet, wrong food habits, refined food, low-calorie food, as well as various ecological and social problems, including urbanization, land desertification and erosion, create favorable conditions for the disturbance of the status of microelements in the body and the deepening of possible negative consequences. Zinc is an essential trace element necessary for all living organisms. It is of great importance in the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids and is included as a cofactor in more than 200 enzymes at all levels of metabolism. Zinc deficiency (ZnD) is associated with impaired enzyme activity, compromised immunity, allergic reactions, retardation of physical development, impairs cognition and mental health disorders. In addition, zinc exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which highlights the importance of this element in chronic diseases. ZnD is one of the leading causes of child mortality worldwide. Any change in zinc homeostasis and a decrease in its content in the body can lead to immune dysfunction in children, as well as a delay in mental, physical and sexual maturation. There is also an assumption that zinc deficiency in the fetus has a certain role in the development of pathological processes in adults. ZnD is much more common in low-income and middle-income countries. It is considered one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies in the world and is associated with a high burden of disease in these countries. However, in a number of countries of Western Europe, zinc deficiency is also significant and according to some data, ZnD prevalence was 31.3% in healthy children aged 1–3 years. Deficiency of microelements, particularly zinc, among the population is usually related not only to inadequate food intake, poor diet quality, but also with low zinc content in the soil. According to a number of studies, zinc deficiency is the most common of the essential elements worldwide, because huge areas of land are low in zinc and therefore deficient in zinc in the main cereal crops: rice, maize and wheat. The richest food sources of zinc include meat, fish, and seafood. Eggs and dairy products also contain zinc. Beans, nuts, and whole grains contain zinc, but the bioavailability of zinc from these foods is lower than that from animal foods. Fruits and vegetables contain very little zinc.