Zinc - a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023

Tor A Strand; Maria Mathisen

doi:10.29219/fnr.v67.10368

Zinc - a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023

Food Nutr Res. 2023 Dec 6:67. doi: 10.29219/fnr.v67.10368. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Tor A Strand^{1

2}, Maria Mathisen³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
² Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway.
³ Department of Medical Microbiology, Drammen Hospital, Drammen, Norway.

Abstract

Zinc is essential for several biological processes including those critical for the immune system, DNA synthesis, cell division, and growth. Zinc is involved in the pathophysiology of chronic diseases and protects proteins and lipids from oxidative damage. Inadequate zinc intake and low plasma zinc concentration are associated to an increased risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes; however, the evidence is limited. Zinc deficiency increases the risk of infections and poor growth and may contribute to the high burden of infectious diseases and stunting in children living in low- and middle-income countries. The risk of zinc deficiency in the populations of the Nordic and Baltic countries is low.

Keywords: cofactors; nutrition recommendations; trace elements; zinc.

Publication types

Review