Zinc is an essential trace element that is normally sufficiently absorbed with food. However, due to changes in eating habits, increased consumption of fast food and convenience foods, high alcohol consumption, but also because of some voluntary diets or vegan diets, more and more people are consuming too little zinc. Experts assume that about one third of the population is not sufficiently supplied with zinc. Foods with a high phytin content can also reduce zinc intake. These include, in particular, whole grains, beans, nuts, brown rice and corn.
For example, competitive athletes, pregnant women and lactating women have an increased zinc requirement. The same applies to people with chronic intestinal disease, diabetes or rheumatism. In older people, the ability of the intestinal mucosa to absorb zinc into the blood also decreases. Certain medications also hinder absorption or increase the requirement, such as cortisone, blood lipid-lowering, gastric acid-binding and dehydrating agents.
