The body is dependent upon zinc to maintain function [23]. As a constituent of more than 70 metalloenzymes, zinc participates in carbohydrate, protein, lipid, and nucleic acid metabolism [23, 24]. Zinc also modulates the immune response and regulates wound healing [23–27].
Within the body, zinc is stored primarily in muscle, bone, teeth, and skin [23, 28, 29]. Concerning the skin, the epidermis contains by far more zinc than the dermis [28, 29]. The highest concentrations of epidermal zinc are in the nasal planum and footpads [30].
Because the body’s reserves of zinc are limited, patients rely upon dietary zinc to maintain function [23, 31]. As expected, certain physiologic states require more zinc than others [23]. Zinc requirements are greater for those young patients that are still growing and in adults that are repro-ductively active [31, 32]. Pregnancy, lactation, and illness may raise requirements for zinc by two to three times [32].
Certain ingredients in the diet may also raise zinc requirements [23]. For example, diets that are high in plant proteins such as soy decrease the body’s ability to absorb zinc [23, 33–35]. Vegetarian‐based diets may therefore require supplemental zinc to compensate for this reduction in zinc utilization. Additionally, excess intake of calcium, iron, and copper may also reduce zinc absorption by the intestines [23, 33–35].
One‐fifth of the body’s zinc is stored in skin [23, 28, 29].
Therefore, zinc deficiencies often result in dermatosis.
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