Overview

• According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, zinc is a trace mineral, second only to iron in terms of concentration in the body.
• Found throughout our body, it has an important role in our immune system. It is needed in "cell division, cell growth, wound healing, and the breakdown of carbohydrates."
• It is also known to be involved in the sense of smell and taste.
• The recommended daily allowance for zinc is 11 mg a day for men and 8 mg a day for women aged 19 and older.

Deficiency

• Although rare, zinc deficiency is most common among those who are unable to absorb the mineral well "due to digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases."
• Gastrointestinal surgeries and chronic liver or kidney diseases also increase the risk of zinc deficiency.
•  Symptoms include but are not limited to hair loss, depressed moods, diarrhea and poor appetite.
• According to the National Institutes of Health, zinc deficiency may lead to "slow growth in infants and children, delayed sexual development in adolescents and impotence in men."