ABSTRACT
The occurrence of zinc deficiency is more widespread and prevalent than originally considered. Zinc is involved in a large array of metabolic actions in the body. With the broad range of zinc participation in metabolic processes, it is only to be expected that a zinc deficiency can lead to a variety of physiological and development impairments. The zinc contained in animal protein is readily available. Hence, zinc present in vegetarian diets has less bioavailability then the zinc in non-vegetarian diets. Atomic absorption spectrometry is the procedure commonly used to measure zinc concentrations in biological specimens. Angiotensin-converting enzyme is a zinc metalloenzyme which converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Thymulin is a thymus-specific hormone found in serum that requires the presence of zinc for its biological activity. Zinc toxicity has been reported in patients receiving prolonged oral zinc therapy or total parenteral nutrition.
