Zinc and the Diet

Where does zinc come from in the regular diet?

Zinc is present in most foods, but meat and fish provide the best sources, as bio-availability of zinc from animal products is far greater than from plant foods. Plant foods, which have a high content of phytic acid and fibre, reduce the absorption of zinc. Vegetarian diets are especially low in zinc.
The move to more healthy foods (for the heart) such as vegetables and salads, has had the effect of reducing the zinc status of many people. This results in sub-optimum status of zinc.

Supplementing Zinc

Zinc can be supplemented as zinc salts but absorption in this form is poor and subject to interference from other minerals and diet components.
Supplementing zinc in chelated forms assures improved absorption and improved status.

Zinc Nutrition

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA):

(As recommended by the US Academy of Sciences, 1980)

Zinc / mg
Children under 6 months Children 6 - 12 months Children 1 - 12 years Males and Females over 12 years Pregnant Women Lactating Mothers	3 5 10 15 20 25
(UK average approx.)	9

In the UK average intake varies between 9 - 10 mg with less for vegetarians. This is only about 66% of normal RDA and only 40% of RDA for lactating mothers.