The Diagnosis of Zinc Deficiency

Abstract

The very large number of indices that have, from time to time, been evaluated, promulgated and, with experience, discarded as methods of assessing the zinc status of a subject is true testimony to the difficulties involved (Solomons 1979; Kirchgessner and Roth 1981; Golden and Golden 1985). None of the methods currently used can be recommended, with the possible exception of the monitoring of responses to zinc supplementation with plasma zinc estimation in conjunction with clinical evaluation.