Who Suffers from Zinc Deficiency?
Because of inadequate intakes, billions of people are at risk for zinc deficiency. In fact, more than 400,000 children die each year due to zinc deficiency. Current estimates of the risk of zinc deficiency indicate that approximately one-third of the world’s population live in countries where the risk of zinc deficiency is high. Direct measures of the prevalence of zinc deficiency are scarce as the recommended method for measuring zinc deficiency has not been used widely since its publication in 2007.

Severity of Zinc Deficiency

Note: Prevalence of risk of deficiency is based on the percent of children under 5 years of age with low height-for-age or growth stunting, and its public health significance is classified as low (≤20.0%), moderate (>20%–40%), or high (≥40%)

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Database: http://apps.who.int/ghodata/

Why Do We Need Zinc?
Zinc is involved in more body functions than any other mineral. Zinc’s role includes acting as a necessary component of more than 200 enzyme systems, normal growth and development, the maintenance of body tissues, sexual function, vision, and the immune system. Zinc is essential for survival, and zinc deficiency has serious consequences for health, particularly during childhood when zinc requirements are increased. In addition, zinc deficiency also causes stunting. Randomized controlled trials showed that zinc supplementation can reduce the severity of morbidity from a number of common childhood infections, including diarrhea, pneumonia, and possibly malaria, by one-third.

Zinc Deficiency Among Children Under Age 5, By Region

Source: Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd edition, 2006, Tables 28.1, 28.2, and 28.3