The enormity of the zinc deficiency problem and available solutions; an overview

The societal cost of micronutrient deficiency (MND) or the “hidden hunger” is in millions of dollars/year, reducing the GDP of some countries by as much as 11%. Zn is an important micronutrient for both plants and animals. An estimated 17% of the world population, or around 1.1 billion people, are at the risk of zinc (Zn) deficiency. The deficiency has been related to adverse pregnancy outcomes, stunted growth, premature deaths, immune system dysfunctions, neuro-behavioral disorders, and recently with the failure to recover from COVID-19. These health risks associated with Zn deficiency have compelled FAO and WHO to recommend Zn fortification of diet. Correcting Zn deficiency is a challenge due to several reasons. Close to half of the agricultural soils are Zn deficient, and chemical Zn fertilizers are costly and ineffective. Developing Zn-rich crops through plant breeding and genetic engineering is challenging. Zn-dense diet is costly and cannot be implemented in the low-income region most affected by Zn deficiency. Lack of consensus among regulatory bodies on defining and diagnosing Zn deficiency in plants and Humans. Awareness and other sociocultural issues. Among the most important available solutions are zinc biofortification of the cereal crops, use of zinc biofertilizers, development of Zn-efficient crops with reduced phytate content. The use of Zn supplements, dietary modification, and diversification, especially with fish, are proposed as the most accessible and affordable solutions. Awareness programs in areas suffering the most from Zn deficiency are required. Despite the suggestions from FAO and WHO, global efforts to combat Zn deficiency matching those for combating diseases like HIV are not in place. Coordinated efforts of the international community, especially policy-makers, agricultural scientists, dieticians, physicians, and others, are required to address the issue of hidden hunger.     

营养不良儿血锌浓度的调查研究

取79例营养不良小儿血20μL，用国产MP-1型溶出分析仪．以极谱法检测其血锌浓度．按1985年全国9省城区儿童生长发育衡量数值，用WZR-EA型电脑评价营养不良程度．结果表明，44．3％的营养不良儿缺锌，营养不良程度与缺锌率成正比，6月龄至3岁营养不良儿最易缺锌，纯母乳喂养，按时合理添加辅食是预防婴幼儿缺锌的重要方法。微量血锌测定法简便易行，可推广试用．     

75例3岁以下营养不良儿血铅,锌,铜,铁,钙含量的变化

比较了７５例３岁以下营养不良儿与正常儿的全血铅、锌、铜、铁、钙含量，结果发现营养不良儿以上５种元素均较正常儿明显减少，经统计学处理有非常显著意义（Ｐ＜０．０１）．提示这５种元素与营养不良密切相关。Ⅲ度营养不良儿的血锌、铜、铁、钙含量又比Ⅰ、Ⅱ度营养不良儿明显降低．本组血铅含量虽然比本地区正常儿降低，但已高于国外内诊断标准，提示营养不良对铅的吸收可能较正常儿低，但对铅中毒易感性增高，也可能是营养不良生长发育障碍的原因之一。在治疗营养不良同时补充微量元素锌、铁、钙可以减少铅的吸收。     

小儿营养不良患者微量元素变化与中医辩证分型关系的探讨

对115例小儿营养不良患者．经测试头发微量元素含量的变化，发现中医不同的辩证分型中，徽量元素的缺乏或偏高各有不同的变化，提示在治疗上，除辩证外，可选择应用某微量元素含量高的同类中药进行治疗，能提高临床疗效．     

营养不良婴幼儿红细胞内外锌、铜、钙、镁变化及其意义

对１８例营养不良婴幼儿血浆及红细胞内的锌,铜,钙,镁元素含量进行了测定,并与１５例健康婴幼儿进行对照。结果表明,营养不良患儿血浆中锌,钙降低,与健康组相比有显著性差异（Ｐ〈０．０１）;营养不良患儿红细胞内锌,镁降低,钙升高,与健康组相比均有显著性差异（Ｐ〈０．０１）。因此,营养不良婴幼儿红细胞内外锌,钙,镁的变化应引起重视。     

Effect of Rehabilitation Nutrition Care Process on Physical Function in Lung Cancer Cachexia: A Case Report

Objectives: Patients with cancer cachexia have poor adherence to treatment, which affects their prognosis. Currently, there are many studies on the effects of rehabilitation on cancer cachexia, but there is a lack of evidence on the effects of nutrition therapy alone or in combination with rehabilitation and nutrition therapy. This article describes a case in which rehabilitation nutrition care process was effective in a patient with lung cancer who developed cancer cachexia. Methods: A 68-year-old woman was hospitalized for treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. The patient had moderate malnutrition, sarcopenia, and cachexia at the time of admission, so the authors intervened according to rehabilitation nutrition care process. The physiotherapist mainly prescribed resistance training and aerobic exercise, 40-60 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week. And the dietitian provided oral nutritional supplements (100 kcal, branched-chain amino acid: 3.0 g) in addition to hospital food and adjusted the patient''s energy intake to 26.96-33.05 kcal/kg/day and protein intake to 1.07-1.14 g/kg/day. Outcomes: Comparing the initial evaluation with the discharge, nutritional status, such as body mass index and skeletal muscle mass, and physical functions, such as maximum grip strength, gait speed, and functional independence measure (motor items), were improved. Conclusions: Rehabilitation nutrition care process-based interventions may improve nutritional status and physical functions more than exercise therapy alone in patients with lung cancer cachexia.     

营养不良儿童与发锌关系的研究

报告７１例６个月至７岁营养不良儿童与对照组１３７例健康儿童的发锌含量研究结果。调查结果表明，营养不良儿童发锌含量差异极其显著．Ｐ＜０．０１，表明微量元素锌对小儿的生长发育有明显的影响，符合文献报道的关于体辞水平与儿童营养不良的身体发育障碍显著相关．为临床应用锌剂综合治疗营养不良疾病提供科学依据。