What happens if you have zinc deficiency?

The normal functioning of the human body requires a lot of trace elements. Calcium, iron and zinc are all very important. No matter which element is lacking, the body will show abnormalities. The most obvious symptoms of calcium deficiency are leg cramps and osteoporosis. Severe calcium deficiency can cause cervical spine diseases. Zinc deficiency can also cause many abnormal phenomena in the body. Children are especially prone to zinc deficiency. Do parents know what will happen if they lack zinc?

Nowadays, many people suffer from zinc deficiency, especially in children. Zinc deficiency will show some obvious symptoms, but many times parents fail to identify what is going on in time, which affects the development of their children. Everyone needs to understand what will happen if zinc deficiency occurs.

1. Anorexia and pica. Many diseases can cause anorexia. Anorexia caused by zinc deficiency often forms a vicious circle. Due to zinc deficiency in the body, loss of taste, loss of appetite and subsequent reduced food intake will lead to further zinc deficiency in the body. Another manifestation of severe zinc deficiency is pica, which often occurs in children under 10 years old. It is manifested by children not liking to eat normal food, such as soil, sand, nails, match heads and egg shells. Patients often have poor appetite, anorexia or picky eating habits such as not eating meat. The early symptoms of zinc deficiency in adults or the elderly are also decreased sense of taste and loss of appetite.

2. Affecting intellectual development. Zinc deficiency in pregnant women will hinder the normal division and development of fetal brain cells and may affect the baby's later years after birth. It can make the total number of brain cells lower than normal and inhibit the development and hypertrophy of brain cells, leading to mental retardation in children. Many studies have shown that children with low intelligence, poor memory and poor academic performance also have lower than normal zinc levels in their bodies.

3. It causes delayed puberty and male infertility. The zinc content in the human body is closely related to growth, development and sexual maturity. The gonads develop under the stimulation of "sex hormones" secreted by the pituitary gland, which is rich in zinc.

4. It causes collagen acrodermatitis. The clinical manifestations of this disease are characterized by three major symptoms: persistent diarrhea, skin lesions around the mouth or anus, and hair loss. Generally, diarrhea occurs 3 to 5 times a day with watery stools and foam. Skin and mucous membrane damage manifests as papules and papulovesicles, and pustules after secondary infection, accompanied by oral ulcers and glossitis, hair loss, seborrheic dermatitis on the top of the head, dry, grayish-yellow hair, and sparse hair that falls off easily.

5. Wounds heal slowly. Zinc deficiency can cause damage to the synthesis of various enzymes and proteins, thereby reducing collagen in the wound, making the epithelium and granulation tissue easily destroyed, making it difficult for wounds such as trauma and ulcers to heal. Zinc supplementation can accelerate wound healing.

6. Affects growth and development. Zinc deficiency reduces the synthesis of various zinc-containing enzymes and zinc-containing growth hormones in the body, leading to slow height growth, decreased digestive function, decreased immune function, and increased chance of infection.

Do we have a better understanding of the impact of zinc deficiency? However, many parents do not understand the symptoms of zinc deficiency and do not know what will happen. For the healthy growth of children, everyone should learn more about this knowledge. When children show some abnormal symptoms, they should be able to know what is going on in time.