Zinc deficiency

Body zinc insufficiency. Presents with growth retardation in children, immunodeficiency, delayed wound healing, dermatitis, taste and smell disturbance, and diarrhoea. Risk groups include patients with inflammatory bowel disease, after bariatric surgery, and on parenteral nutrition.

ICD-10 E601 drug

Also known as: Hypozincemia

Drugs used for this condition

AZinc (oral salts: picolinate, citrate, gluconate, oxide, acetate)First line · Mineral supplements. Trace elementsOral zinc is first-line for confirmed zinc deficiency. Adult doses are 25–50 mg elemental zinc daily for 1–3 months with plasma zinc monitoring. In children with diarrhoea in developing countries, WHO recommends 10–20 mg zinc daily for 10–14 days – this approach reduces diarrhoea duration and recurrence. After bariatric surgery, in cystic fibrosis, Crohn disease, or parenteral nutrition, lifelong deficiency correction is required.

How to read tiers A–F

Evidence tiers belong to the drug-indication pair, not to the drug as a whole: the same substance can be A for one condition and F for another.

AStrong evidence – first or second line in international guidelines
BRecommended in selected cases
CStudy data contradict each other
DBenefit not proven, no documented harm
FDocumented harm, or risk without benefit