Zinc (Zincum, Zn) is a trace element from the group of heavy metals. It is an essential component of food. Essential (necessary for life) means that the body cannot produce it itself. It is absorbed in the small intestine. Approximately two grams of zinc are stored in the body. It is excreted by the liver in the stool; a small amount is also excreted by the kidneys. An important function of zinc is that of a cofactor in various metabolic processes. It is also present in many cells responsible for the immune system (cofactor of the hormone thymulin/ T-cell differentiation) and the endocrine system (male hypogonadism), among others. Zinc poisoning can occur after inhalation of zinc vapors or ingestion of zinc acetate. The following symptoms occur:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea (diarrhea)
- Coma
- Headache
- Shock
- Tachypnea – accelerated breathing
- Nausea (nausea)/vomiting
- Burns
- Hypersalivation (synonyms: sialorrhea, sialorrhea or ptyalism) – increased salivation.
The procedure
Material needed
- Blood serum
Preparation of the patient
- Not known
Disruptive factors
- Not known
Standard values
| Age | Normal value in μg/dl |
| Newborn | 60-90 |
| Adults | 70-120 |
Indications
- Suspected acrodermatitis enteropathica
- Wound healing disorders
- Parenteral nutrition
- Secondary zinc deficiency due todiseases – see under “Interpretation of lowered values”.
Interpretation
Interpretation of lowered values
- Alimentary (nutritional)
- Macro- and micronutrient deficiencies (vital substances) due to purely parenteral nutrition – nutrition exclusively via the vein.
- Chronic high alcohol consumption
- Strict vegetarians
- Vegan diet
- Malabsorption (disorder of absorption)
- Maldigestion (disorder of digestion).
- Chronic digestive insufficiency such as celiac disease (gluten-induced enteropathy; chronic disease of the small intestinal mucosa (lining of the small intestine) due to hypersensitivity to gluten, a grain protein)
- Diseases that may be associated with decreased serum zinc levels:
- Obesity (overweight)
- Anorexia nervosa (anorexia)
- Acrodermatitis enteropathica – disease that leads to various skin changes, especially at the ends of the body, as well as body orifices, and alopecia (hair loss) and diarrhea (diarrhea).
- Alopecia (hair loss)
- Hypogonadism (hypofunction of the gonads) of the male.
- Immunodeficiency (immune deficiency) – including wound healing disorders.
- Infections (including fungal infections)
- Diseases with increased inflammatory processes
- Cirrhosis of the liver (liver shrinkage)
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack),
- Nephrotic syndrome – complex of symptoms associated with various kidney diseases such as.
- Glomerulonephritis can occur (leads to loss of protein bound zinc).
- Sickle cell anemia (med.: Drepanocytosis; also sickle cell anemia, sickle cell anemia) – leads to impaired storage of zinc.
- Operations / stress
- Increased demand
- Growth
- Pregnancy/breastfeeding phase
- Surgery (zinc serum levels recover once the systemic inflammatory response is gone).
- Stress
Interpretation of elevated values
- (Self-)medication
Further notes
- The normal requirement for zinc at medium phytate intake* (660 mg/day) is 8.0 mg/d for women and 14.0 mg/d for men.
* Since 2019, the German Nutrition Society (DGE) gives the recommended intake of zinc for adults as a function of phytate intake. This is because phytic acid inhibits the absorption of zinc by forming poorly soluble complexes (high phytate intake can reduce bioavailability by up to 45%). Phytic acid is mainly found in cereal products (whole grains) and legumes.At low phytate intakes (330 mg/day), the recommended intake of zinc for women 19 years and older is 7 mg, for men 19 years and older 11 mg, for pregnant women in the 1st trimester 7 mg, for pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters 9 mg, and for lactating women 11 mg per day. At high phytate intakes (990 mg/day), adult women are recommended 10 mg, adult men 16 mg of zinc, pregnant women in the 1st trimester 11 mg, pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters 13 mg, and lactating women 14 mg per day. Attention!Note on the state of supply (National Nutrition Survey II 2008)66% of men and 30% of women aged 35-50 years do not reach the recommended daily intake (for more see “National Nutrition Survey (Nutrition Situation)”.
