Abstract
Zinc must be present in the diet of all animals, including hu mans. It is essential for normal carbohydrate and lipid metabo lism as well as protein synthesis and nucleic acid metabolism. It then follows that experimental zinc deficiency results in cessa tion of growth. Other symptoms associated with zinc deficiency include decreased food intake, hair loss, skin lesions, and im paired reproductive function (1, 2). Knowledge of the ubiquitous metabolic role of zinc and of the possible devastating effects of zinc deficiency have led to con cern with the adequacy of the American diet as a source of zinc. Currently, opinions on this issue are polarized. Some have sug gested that the adult Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are slightly inflated (3,4). Others have urged a national zinc en richment program of cereals (5), suggesting that marginal zinc intake is relatively common. The purposes of the paper are: 1 To document the occurrence of zinc deficiency in humans and identify groups at risk 2 To evaluate adequacy of zinc in the American diet com pared with current recommendations 3 To ascertain whether or not current knowledge supports the need for enrichment programs or modification of the RDA
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