Epidemiology

An estimated 3.5 billion people worldwide have inadequate zinc intake.[16]

Nutritional zinc deficiency is highly prevalent in developing regions owing to a combination of inadequate intake of zinc and high consumption of substances that limit zinc absorption such as phytates, oxalates, and, in some cases, clay. Clay eating or "pica" is common in children in some communities. Clay efficiently binds zinc, leading to dramatically decreased bioavailability.

The prevalence of zinc deficiency in the US and other developed countries is less clear. Owing to high consumption of meats and fortification of cereals, zinc deficiency is generally felt to be uncommon in healthy adolescents and adults. However, high rates of zinc deficiency have been documented in many subpopulations in the US, including: infants with nutrient-poor diets, people with chronic gastrointestinal disease, liver disease, sickle cell disease, renal disease, alcohol use disorder, HIV infection, anorexia nervosa, and older people.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​[1][2][3][4][5]​​​​​​​​[6][7][8][9]​​[10][11][12]​​​[13]​​

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is rare, affecting less than 1 in 500,000 people worldwide.[17]

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