The enormity of the zinc deficiency problem and available solutions; an overview |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, UP, India;2. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | Zn deficiency Crops Zn transporters Malnutrition Phytomicrobiome Zn fertilizers and biofertilizers Zn biofortification Dietary diversification Phytate Micronutrient Deficiency Food and Agriculture Organization World Health Organization Human Immunodeficiency Virus Gross Domestic Product Plant Growth-Promoting Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry Laser ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry Acrodermatitis enteropathica Disability adjusted Life years Diethylene Triamine Penta-Acetic Acid International Zinc Nutrition Consultative Group Systematically induced root metabolite exudation Hydroxy-EDTA Chrome azurols 2′-deoxymugenic acid United Nations Children's Fund Gross domestic product |
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