Top 10 Warning Signs of Zinc Deficiency You Shouldn’t Ignore:
Zinc is essential for the growth of micro-organisms, plants, animals, and human beings. It is useful for the body in many ways and carries out various functions, such as cell growth and division, metabolizing proteins and carbohydrates and turning them into energy. It also helps in correcting skin problems such as acne, boils, scars (including stretch marks), and even sore throats.
Zinc is requisite for certain metabolic functions. If the proportion of zinc in the body is low it can become a major cause for genetic disorders. It can also cause fertility problems in men, as well as abnormal growth and slow $e*u@l maturity in children. The primary cause for this condition is insufficient nutrition, but can also be associated with after-effects of bariatric surgery, diabetes, and other such disorders.
Zinc Deficiency Symptoms List
Hypogonadism
This is a medical term used for improper functioning of the reproductive system that results in a defect in the proper operation of gonads (ovaries or testes). The gonads have two functions: to produce hormones and to produce eggs or sperm. The deficiency of $e* and reproductive hormones can result in defective primary or secondary $e*u@l development. This is a serious disorder that can be avoided by consuming zinc-rich foods.
Skin Problems
Zinc deficiency can have a bad effect on skin’s health. The skin can turn pale or rough. Stretch marks are a symptom of zinc deficiency. This essential element performs collagen synthesis which, if strong helps in the healing process of wounds on skin. Acne and greasy skin can also occur. There is evidence that suggests zinc can assist in the management of herpes types 1 and 2.
Emotional Instability
Zinc deficiency can affect your brain, which can lead to many emotional disturbances in your daily life. Anger, sudden fright, depression, and low confidence, including emotional instability are some symptoms that can occur. The most common symptom is frequent mood changes. If zinc deficiency is not paid proper attention to, it may result in a condition known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Hair Loss
Hair loss is a common symptom of zinc deficiency and is caused by the formation of dandruff in the hair which eventually causes this symptom. As long as your hair is deprived of zinc, it will not grow normally. People with lack of zinc for a while can even experience hair loss on other parts of the body. Please note if there is an abundance of zinc in one’s system, this will also lead to hair loss.
Joint and Hip Pain
Painful hip and knee joints have been linked to zinc deficiency. Bones contain a large amount of zinc, and deficiency of this essential mineral will cause pain and other complications. The main reason for joint and hip pain in zinc deficiency is that zinc prevents calcium from being absorbed efficiently by the bones.
Diarrhea
Deficiency of zinc causes diarrhea, but the mechanism which causes this symptom is unknown. In some registered cases, the level of severity was lessened by nearly 15% with zinc supplementation. Zinc medications are easily available at medical stores, but they should only be taken after a consultation by a health practitioner.
Appetite Issues
Improper intake of zinc in the body may lead to a severe loss of appetite, which may then result in serious problems like anorexia (not anorexia nervosa, which is an eating disorder stemming from a mental issue). Eating less causes malnutrition and lowers zinc intake, which makes the condition all the more dangerous with zinc levels continuing to drop. A weak body is more prone to infections and lower immunity levels, simply due to the vitamin deficiency.
Weight Loss
Weight loss is a symptom of zinc deficiency, but can also be a symptom of other diseases or deficiencies. As mentioned before, it can lead to loss of appetite that can indirectly cause weight loss or hinder the growth of new cells and tissues in the body. Children with a zinc deficiency when they are born may also be underweight.
Abnormal Growth
Zinc deficiency can cause both abnormal mental and physical growth in children. If the parent does not have appropriate proportion of zinc in their body when pregnant, it can affect the unborn child and lead to many abnormalities at birth. The physical growth of the child may stop or slow down, which may result in dwarfism. The child may also have some mental and psychological problems, as the brain would not be developing at the appropriate rate.
Other Symptoms
There are miscellaneous symptoms of zinc deficiency; such as white spots on fingernails, poor nail growth, impaired sense of taste and smell, poor night vision, impotence, improper menstrual cycle, and so on. Continuous shivering of hands also reflects zinc deficiency. There are many other minor symptoms that may be linked to a lack of zinc. Since zinc aids in more than one process in the human body, its deficiency can lead to various different effects.
Zinc is a necessary dietary mineral for a healthy body and its deficiency symptoms should not to be ignored. One should eat healthy foods such as pecans, cashews, and pine nuts as well as fish and eggs. Zinc is lost in the milling and cooking processes, eventually resulting in low consumption of zinc. Another way to overcome symptoms of this deficiency would be by taking zinc supplements under the supervision of a qualified medical practitioner.
Eating a low-nutrient diet is only one cause of zinc deficiency, but an important one. Nonetheless, other causes include: malabsorption syndrome, sickle cell disease (which zinc has been shown to help manage, somewhat ironically), chronic liver and kidney disease, and excessive sweating, particularly in hot, tropical climates. One may also lose zinc if one suffers from an injury, burns, or blood loss, having major surgery or an infection.
When choosing a zinc supplement, consider buying a stand-alone rather than a multivitamin that contains zinc. While there is no consensus among healthcare professionals, some do believe that the efficacy of the zinc is minimized when taken thusly. To get the most from zinc supplements, complement them with other stand-alone pills such as calcium, manganese, iron, and copper. Take only the balanced amounts of each recommended by a doctor. As with any dietary modification, alert a physician if you develop any unpleasant side effects, as they may be a sign of a negative interaction between the supplements and any prescription medications also being taken.
Top 10 Signs of Zinc Deficiency
By PositiveMed-Team
Edited By Stephanie Dawson
